I. ˈde-v ə l dialect ˈdi- noun
Etymology: Middle English devel, from Old English dēofol, 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 mankind, 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
- devil to pay
II. transitive verb
( -iled or -illed ; -il·ing or dev·il·ling ˈde-və-liŋ, ˈdev-liŋ)
Date: 1800
1. : to season highly
devil ed eggs
2. : tease , annoy