devil

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An evil supernatural being; in many religions, the chief spirit of evil.

   In the story, the devil tempts the hero with great riches.

2. 2
   noun

   A mischievous or naughty person, often said affectionately of a child.

   Those two kids are little devils in a toy store.

3. 3
   noun

   Something that is very difficult or annoying to do or understand.

   That last math problem was a real devil.

4. 4
   noun

   Used in expressions of surprise, anger, or confusion for emphasis.

   What the devil is going on here?

Common collocations

• dust devil Noun + noun

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…

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images