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

The best definition for ill in this excerpt is: B. wrongly.

In the passage, we learn that even if the principal yields a huge sum, if it is not handled well, it will all amount o crumbs. The lesson is on the proper administration of resources.

Option B best matches the meaning of ill in this sentence.

Learn more about Anne Bradstreet's poem "To Her Father with Some Verses  here:

link

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.

gregor could have been bullying her

yes yes it does !