<sup>*This is an entry in the [Fortnightly Topic Challenge #41: Short and Sweet](https://puzzling.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/6502/fortnightly-topic-challenge-41-short-and-sweet).*</sup>

---

**1** letter only could be mean **anything**.

With an **additional** letter in **front**, could be used as **medicine component** and something you definitely learn or at least heard once.

**Add** another letter in **front**, you would possibly hear that **many times**.

**Add** an additional letter in **front**, you would found an independent **country**.

With an **additional** letter, in the **end**, you would found something **related** to **apple**.

**Add** another letter in the **end**, you would found something **bad**.


**Hint:**
>! **Each** letter is **unique**.