devil

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a word used in exclamations of confusion

   what the devil

2. 2
   verb

   coat or stuff with a spicy paste

   devilled eggs

3. 3
   noun

   The bad part of the conscience; the opposite to the angel.

   The devil in me wants to let him suffer.

4. 4
   noun

   A wicked or naughty person, or one who harbors reckless, spirited energy, especially in a mischievous way; usually said of a young child.

   Those two kids are devils in a toy store.

5. 5
   noun

   A thing that is awkward or difficult to understand or do.

   That math problem was a devil.

6. 6
   noun

   Hell.

   What in the devil is that?

7. 7
   noun

   A printer's assistant.

   For he will not leave his listener to dwell upon sorrow when the print office beckons and he can show you what a good little devil he became.

8. 8
   noun

   A dust devil.

   The formation of tornados and water-spouts is very probably identical with that of dust-storms and "devils," viz., a sudden disturbance of the vertical equilibrium of the atmosphere, where by an upward rush of air is generated, which rapidly becomes spiral.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwísder. Ancient Greek διά (diá) Ancient Greek δια- (dia-) Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der. Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō Ancient Greek βᾰ́λλω (bắllō) Ancient Greek διαβάλλω (diabállō) Ancient Greek διάβολος (diábolos)bor. Latin diabolusbor. Proto-West Germanic *diubul Old English dēofol Middle English devel English devil From Middle English devil, devel, deovel, from Old English dēofol, from Proto-West Germanic *diubul, from Latin diabolus, ultimately from Ancient Greek διάβολος (diábolos, “false accuser, slanderer”), also as "Satan" (in…