Since words have multiple meanings, the context of a word often provides clues to its meaning better than the dictionary's definition. In the following lines from Anne Bradstreet's poem "To Her Father with Some Verses," what is the best definition for ill?

Most truly honored, and as truly dear,

If worth in me or ought I do appear,

Who can of right better demand the same

Than may your worthy self from whom it came?

The principal might yield a greater sum,

Yet handled ill, amounts but to this crumb;

My stock's so small I know not how to pay,

My bond remains in force unto this day.

A. poorly

B. wrongly

C. confusingly

D. angrily

Question

English

Kash Crane

28 April, 07:37

Since words have multiple meanings, the context of a word often provides clues to its meaning better than the dictionary's definition. In the following lines from Anne Bradstreet's poem "To Her Father with Some Verses," what is the best definition for ill?

Most truly honored, and as truly dear,

If worth in me or ought I do appear,

Who can of right better demand the same

Than may your worthy self from whom it came?

The principal might yield a greater sum,

Yet handled ill, amounts but to this crumb;

My stock's so small I know not how to pay,

My bond remains in force unto this day.

A. poorly

B. wrongly

C. confusingly

D. angrily

+1

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Shannon · Answer 1

The best definition of 'ill' from Anne Bradstreet's poem is 'wrongly.'

Explanation:

Anne Bradstreet's poem 'To her Father With Some Versus' is an ode to her father. The lines "The principal might yield a greater sum,

Yet handled ill, amounts but to this crumb" states that whatever Anne's father have did for her would have resulted in much better outcome if only she had taken proper care of it. But instead, she didn't. We come to known this from the line 'Yet handled ill, amounts but to this crumb.' Here 'handled ill' stands for handling things wrongly, in a improper manner.