devil English · revision 6156

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 800|origins=grc διάβολος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdev.əl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English devel, [[inh|ang|dēofol|t=devil, evil spirit]], earlier diobul,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|la-ecc|diabolus]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[grc|διάβολος|tr=diábolos|t=the Devil; accuser, slanderer]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) an agent noun from [[m|grc|διαβάλλειν|tr=diabállein|t=to slander, attack]], literally “to throw across”, from [[m|grc|διά|tr=diá|t=across]] and [[m|grc|βάλλειν|tr=bállein|t=to throw]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) In the Septuagint diábolos translated the Hebrew word for [[Satan]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(NODE 1998)^(Barnhart 1988) The Latin also gave [[fr|diable]] and [[it|diavolo]],^(Etymonline) and [[got|𐌳𐌹𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌿𐌻𐌿𐍃|tr=diabaulus]], from the Greek, is the source of [[de|Teufel]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Devil, Satan: before 800 in the OED and Barnhart, as diobul;^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) the plural dēofla, evil spirits, is in ''Beowulf'' about 725.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Jerome reintroduced Satan in Latin Bibles; in the Vulgate diabolus and daemon were distinct, but devil and [[demon]] have merged in English and the other Germanic languages.^(Etymonline) A false or heathen god is from about 1200, and a wicked person resembling a devil from the late 12th century.^(Etymonline) The playful sense of a clever rogue is from about 1600,^(Etymonline) and the errand boy in a printing house, the ''printer's devil'', from the 1680s, perhaps also because they were often blackened by ink.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) A junior who does work for a lawyer or writer is from 1864,^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) and a highly seasoned grilled dish is from the 18th century,^(Hoad 1986) with the verb, to grill with hot condiments, from 1800.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) ''Speak of the devil'', said when someone appears just after being mentioned, is from the mid-17th century,^(Cresswell 2021) and ''the devil finds work for idle hands'' goes back to the letters of Saint Jerome.^(Cresswell 2021) The Scots shortened form is [[deil]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – dēofla, evil spirits, in ''Beowulf''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 800 – diobul, the Devil.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – a heathen god.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – a clever rogue.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1680s – a printer's devil.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1800 – to grill with hot seasoning.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1864 – to act as a lawyer's devil.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(often the Devil)'' In Christianity, Judaism and Islam, the chief spirit of [[evil]] and enemy of God; [[Satan]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A lesser evil spirit; a [[demon]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A wicked, cruel or ill-tempered person.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person of a specified kind: ''lucky devil'', ''poor devil''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A daring, energetic or mischievous person.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[printer's devil]], or a junior who works for a lawyer or writer.^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To season food heavily, as with [[mustard]] or pepper: ''devilled eggs''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To annoy or harass.^(AHD)

+ # To do routine work for a lawyer or writer.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[devilish]]

+ * [[devilment]]

+ * [[devil-may-care]]

+ * [[devil's advocate]]

+ * [[printer's devil]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[diabolo]]

+ * [[diablo]]

+ * [[diabolic]]

+ * [[diabolical]]

+ * [[Satan]]

+ * [[demon]]

+ * [[deil]]

+ * [[devilry]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}