devil
DEH-vuhl
Devil (noun) means In Christian and Jewish tradition, the supreme evil spirit; Satan. Example: “The painting shows the devil tempting a monk in the desert.”
noun
1
In Christian and Jewish tradition, the supreme evil spirit; Satan.
"The painting shows the devil tempting a monk in the desert."
"In the old story, a man makes a bargain with the devil."
"The medieval carving showed the devil with horns and a long tail."
2
A wicked, cruel, or mischievous person (also used affectionately, especially of a child).
"You little devil, you ate the whole cake!"
"He was a real devil at school and teased every teacher."
"That devil of a cat has stolen my sandwich again!"
verb
1
To season food heavily with spices, especially mustard or pepper.
"He devilled the kidneys with plenty of cayenne pepper and served them on toast."
"If you devil the crab meat, it gets a lovely sharp, spicy kick."
"She deviled the eggs with a dash of paprika and mustard."
2
To work for a barrister or writer without pay or credit, usually to gain experience.
"He devilled for a senior barrister before qualifying himself."
"As a young lawyer, she devilled for a leading barrister for two years."
"Many writers devil for an established author before publishing anything of their own."
How to use devil
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe personification of evil in religious belief, or loosely, a wicked or naughty person; the verb can also mean to spice up food or to do unpaid junior legal/writing work.
Common pairings
deviled eggs
the devil's advocate
speak of the devil
poor devil
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- devils
- Past tense
- deviled, devilled
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The painting shows the _____ tempting a monk in the desert.
Etymology
From Old English dēofol, borrowed from Latin diabolus, from Greek diábolos, "slanderer" — literally "one who throws something across" (in someone's path).
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for devil
See all rhymes for devil →Frequently asked questions
What does “devil” mean?
The word “devil” means in Christian and Jewish tradition, the supreme evil spirit; Satan. In plain terms, the personification of evil in religious belief, or loosely, a wicked or naughty person; the verb can also mean to spice up food or to do unpaid junior legal/writing work.
How do you pronounce “devil”?
“Devil” is pronounced DEH-vuhl (/ˈdɛvəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “devil” in a sentence?
Here is “devil” used in a sentence: “The painting shows the devil tempting a monk in the desert.”
What part of speech is “devil”?
Depending on how it is used, “devil” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “devil” come from?
The word “devil” comes from Latin. From Old English dēofol, borrowed from Latin diabolus, from Greek diábolos, "slanderer" — literally "one who throws something across" (in someone's path).
Is “devil” a common word?
“Devil” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “devil” have?
“Devil” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in Christian and Jewish tradition, the supreme evil spirit; Satan.
When is "devil" capitalized?
"Devil" is usually capitalized as "the Devil" when it names the supreme evil spirit, Satan, in Christian and Jewish tradition. It stays lowercase when it means a wicked, cruel, or mischievous person, as in "you little devil."
What is the difference between "devil" and "demon"?
In many traditions "the Devil" refers to one supreme evil being, Satan, whereas "demon" refers to any of the many lesser evil spirits. So a demon is one of many, while the Devil is singular and supreme.
Can "devil" be used affectionately?
Yes. Although it names an evil spirit or a cruel person, "devil" is also used with warmth or amusement, especially about a child, as in "the cheeky little devil." Tone and context signal whether it is critical or affectionate.
What are common expressions using "devil"?
English has many idioms with "devil," such as "speak of the devil," "devil's advocate," "between the devil and the deep blue sea," and "the devil is in the detail." These are figurative and rarely refer to an actual evil spirit.
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