in an evil hour
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Acting under an unfortunate impulse. In astrology we have our lucky and unlucky hours.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “in an evil hour” mean?
Acting under an unfortunate impulse. In astrology we have our lucky and unlucky hours.
Is “in an evil hour” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.