deviltry

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   wicked, malicious, or recklessly mischievous behavior

   The raiders' calculated deviltry left the isolated settlement terrified.

2. 2
   noun

   a wicked or mischievous act, scheme, or contrivance

   The memoir recounts every deviltry the conspirators attempted.

Formed from devil with the noun-forming ending -try, probably influenced by words for practices or kinds of conduct. It is especially common in American English as a variant of devilry, meaning wickedness or mischievous wrongdoing.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary