devil

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noun dev·il \ˈde-v^əl dialectal ˈdi-\

Definition of devil

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
3a : an extremely wicked person : fiendb archaic : a great evil
4 : a person of notable energy, recklessness, and dashing spirit; also : one who is mischievous those kids are little devils today
5 : fellow —usually used in the phrases poor devil, lucky devil
6a : something very trying or provoking having a devil of a time with this problemb : severe criticism or rebuke : hell —used with the I'll probably catch the devil for thisc : 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

See devil defined for English-language learners

See devil defined for kids

Examples of devil in a Sentence

She is a tricky devil, so be careful.
Those kids can be little devils sometimes.
He's such a lucky devil that he'll probably win the lottery someday.

Origin and Etymology of devil

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Occult Terms

augury, censor, invocation, lucidity, metempsychosis, mojo, numinous, preternatural, weird, wraith

devil

verb dev·il

Definition of devil

deviled

devilled

;

deviling

devilling

\ˈde-və-liŋ, ˈdev-liŋ\

transitive verb
1 : to season highly deviled eggs
2 : tease, annoy

1800

First Known Use of devil

1800

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

DEVIL Defined for English Language Learners

devil

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noun

Definition of devil for English Language Learners

the Devil : the most powerful spirit of evil in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam who is often represented as the ruler of hell
: an evil spirit
: a person who does bad things or causes trouble usually in a way that is not too serious

DEVIL Defined for Kids

devil

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noun dev·il \ˈde-vəl\

Definition of devil for Students

1 often cap : the most powerful spirit of evil
2 : an evil spirit : demon, fiend
3 : a wicked or cruel person
4 : an attractive, mischievous, or unfortunate person a handsome devil poor devils