devil

Forms

1.An evil creature, the objectification of a hostile and destructive force.
2.A man with red or orange skin and a pair of horns on his head, a pointed goatee, and a long tail, who carries a pitchfork, represents evil, and is portrayed to children as a boogeyman who punishes bad behavior.
3.The bad part of the conscience; the opposite to the angel.
- The devil in me wants to let him suffer.
4.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.

1.To annoy or bother.
2.To make like a devil; to invest with the character of a devil.
3.To work as a ‘devil’; to work for a lawyer or writer without fee or recognition.
- He did not repeat the scathing estimate of her character by Quatrefages, who at that time spent one afternoon a week devilling at the Consulate, keeping the petty-cash box in order.
4.To ghostwrite; to author while working as a ‘devil’.
- Didn't secretaries write the speeches of Parliamentary "big-bugs"? Weren't the opinions of eminent lawyers often written by their juniors, read over and signed? Weren't briefs and pleadings devilled?

Uncommon· #3133

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 βάλλω (bállō)

Ancient Greek διαβάλλω (diabállō)

Ancient Greek διάβολος (diábolos)bor.