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Ail

to affect with pain or uneasiness, either physical or mental; to trouble; to be the matter with; used to express some uneasiness or affection, whose cause is unknown; as, what ails the man? I know not what ails him. What aileth thee, Hagar? (gen. Xxi. 17)

It is never used to express a specific disease. We do not say, a fever ails him; but, something ails him.

Origin: oe. Eilen, ailen, as. Eglan to trouble, pain; akin to goth. Us-agljan to distress, agls troublesome, irksome, aglo, aglitha, pain, and prob. To E. Awe. Cause bodily suffering to.