n.
Pronunciation: ' de-v ə l dial ' di-
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English devel, from Old English d ē ofol, from Late Latin diabolus, from Greek diabolos, literally, slanderer, from diaballein to throw across, slander, from dia- + ballein to throw; probably akin to Sanskrit gurate he lifts up
Date: before 12th century
1 often capitalized : the personal supreme spirit of evil often represented in Jewish and Christian belief as the tempter of humankind, the leader of all apostate angels, and the ruler of hell ― usually used with the ― often used as an interjection, an intensive, or a generalized term of abuse <what the devil is this?> <the devil you say!>
2 : an evil spirit : DEMON
3 a : an extremely wicked person : FIEND b archaic : a great evil
4 : a person of notable energy, recklessness, and dashing spirit also : one who is mischievous <those kids are little devil s today>
5 : FELLOW ― usually used in the phrases poor devil, lucky devil
6 a : something very trying or provoking <having a devil of a time with this problem> b : severe criticism or rebuke : HELL ― used with the <I'll probably catch the devil for this> c : the difficult, deceptive, or problematic part of something <the devil is in the details>
7 : DUST DEVIL
8 Christian Science : the opposite of Truth : a belief in sin, sickness, and death : EVIL , ERROR
– between the devil and the deep blue sea : faced with two equally objectionable alternatives
– devil to pay : severe consequences ― used with the <there'll be the devil to pay if we're late>