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Definition: Devil |
DevilNoun1. (Judeo-Christian religion) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell. 2. One of the evil spirits of traditional Jewish and Christian belief. 3. A word used in exclamations of confusion; "what the devil" or "the deuce with it" or "the dickens you say". 4. A rowdy or mischievous person (usually a young man); "he chased the young hellions out of his yard". 5. A cruel wicked and inhuman person. Verb1. Cause annoyance in; disturb, esp. by minor irritations: "Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me"; "It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves". 2. Coat or stuff with a spicy paste: "devilled eggs". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "Devil" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1050. (references) |
Etymology: Devil \Dev"il\, noun. [Anglo-Saxon de['o]fol, de['o]ful; akin to German, Gothic diaba['u]lus; all from Latin diabolus the devil, Greek the devil, the slanderer, slander, calumniate, orig., to throw across; across to throw, let fall, fall; compare to Sanskrit galt.. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
19th Century Satire | An old rascal mentioned in the Bible, now reported engaged to Mary McLane. Source: Foolish Dictionary, 1904. |
Bible | Devil (Gr. diabolos), a slanderer, the arch-enemy of man's spiritual interest (Job 1:6; Rev. 2:10; Zech. 3:1). He is called also "the accuser of the brethen" (Rev. 12:10). In Lev. 17:7 the word "devil" is the translation of the Hebrew _sair_, meaning a "goat" or "satyr" (Isa. 13:21; 34:14), alluding to the wood-daemons, the objects of idolatrous worship among the heathen. In Deut. 32:17 and Ps. 106:37 it is the translation of Hebrew _shed_, meaning lord, and idol, regarded by the Jews as a "demon," as the word is rendered in the Revised Version. In the narratives of the Gospels regarding the "casting out of devils" a different Greek word (daimon) is used. In the time of our Lord there were frequent cases of demoniacal possession (Matt. 12:25-30; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 4:35; 10:18, etc.). Source: Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary. |
Biographical Satire | DEVIL, see Old Nic. Source: Who was Who: 5000BC - 1914. |
Dream Interpretation | For farmers to dream of the devil, denotes blasted crops and death among stock, also family sickness. Sporting people should heed this dream as a warning to be careful of their affairs, as they are likely to venture beyond the laws of their State. For a preacher, this dream is undeniable proof that he is over-zealous, and should forebear worshiping God by tongue-lashing his neighbor. To dream of the devil as being a large, imposingly dressed person, wearing many sparkling jewels on his body and hands, trying to persuade you to enter his abode, warns you that unscrupulous persons are seeking your ruin by the most ingenious flattery. Young and innocent women, should seek the stronghold of friends after this dream, and avoid strange attentions, especially from married men. Women of low character, are likely to be robbed of jewels and money by seeming strangers. Beware of associating with the devil, even in dreams. He is always the forerunner of despair. If you dream of being pursued by his majesty, you will fall into snares set for you by enemies in the guise of friends. To a lover, this denotes that he will be won away from his allegiance by a wanton. Source: Ten Thousand Dreams Interpreted .... |
Literature | Devil Represented with a cloven foot, because by the Rabbinical writers he is called seirissim (a goat). As the goat is a type of uncleanness, the prince of unclean spirits is aptly represented under this emblem. Devil (A), in legal parlance, is a leader's fag who gets up the facts of a brief, with the laws bearing on it, and arranges everything for the pleader in methodical order. These juniors have surplus briefs handed to them by their seniors. A good fag is a good devil and is sure to get on. The Attorney-General's devils are the Counsel of the Treasury, who not unfrequently get promoted to the bench. A printer's devil. Formerly, the boy who took the printed sheets from the tympan of the press. Old Moxon says: "They do commonly so black and bedaub themselves that the workmen do jocosely call them devils." The errand-boy is now so called. The black slave employed by Aldo Manuzio, Venetian printer, was thought to be an imp. Hence the following proclamation: "I, Aldo Manuzio, printer to the Doge, have this day made public exposure of the printer's devil. All who think he is not flesh and blood may come and pinch him.' - Proclamation of Aldo Manuzio, 1490. Robert the Devil, of Normandy. (See Robert Le Diable.) The French Devil. Jean Bart, an intrepid French sailor, born at Dunkirk. (1650-1702.) Son of the Devil. Ezzelino, chief of the Gibelins, and Governor of Vicenza, was so called for his infamous cruelties. (1215-1259). "Fierce Ezelin, that most inhuman lord, Who shall be deemed by men the child of hell." Rose: Orlando Furioso, iii. 32. The White Devil of Wallachia. George Castriota was so called by the Turks. (1404-1467.). Source: Brewer's Dictionary. |
Multilingual Slang | Finnish (perkele, piru, saatana), Norwegian (faen, jævel), Swedish (fan, satan). (references) |
Slang in 1811 | DEVIL. A printer's errand-boy. Also a small thread in the king's ropes and cables, whereby they may be distinguished from all others. The Devil himself; a small streak of blue thread in the king's sails. The Devil may dance in his pocket; i.e. he has no m DEVIL. The gizzard of a turkey or fowl, scored, peppered, salted and broiled: it derives its appellation from being hot in the mouth. Source: 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
The Devil is the name given to a supernatural entity who, in most Western religions, is the central embodiment of evil. This entity is also commonly referred to by a variety of names, including Satan, Lucifer, Mephistopheles and Beelzebub. In classic demonology, however, each of these alternate names refers to a specific supernatural entity, and there is significant disagreement as to whether any of these specific entities is actually evil. The word devil is derived from the Greek word diabolos ("to slander"), and the term devil can refer to a lesser demon in the hierarchy of Hell. At the same time, the term devil is also derived from the same Indo-European root word for deva, which roughly translates as "angel."
The notion of a central supernatural embodiment of evil, as well as the notion of angels, first arose in Western monotheism when Judaism came into contact with the Persian religion of Zoroastrianism. Unlike classical monotheism, Zoroastrianism features two gods, one good and one evil, locked in a cosmic struggle where both are more or less evenly matched and the outcome is uncertain. Ahura Mazda ("Wise Lord"), also known as Ohrmazd, is the god of light, and Ahriman ("Evil Spirit"), also known as Angra Mainyu, is the god of darkness. In a final battle between the supernatural forces of good and evil, human souls will be judged in a fiery ordeal, and only the good will survive this ordeal. Accordingly, humans are urged to align themselves with the god of light and his angels and to shun the god of darkness and his demons.
Christianity views Satan as a being created by God, whereas the evil god of Zoroastrianism is not a created being.
The Devil in Judaism
In Hebrew, the Devil is called "Satan". The Hebrew biblic word "satan" means an adversary or an obstacle. The word "satan" in the meaning of human adversary appears in Kings A, Chapter 11, where God makes Hadad the Edomite an adversary to King Salomon.
In the book of Job (Iyov), Satan appears as an angel submitted to God. One might say that he rather manipulates God into letting him test Job and put Job's faith on trial. Satan says that Job is faithful to God only because he has good lives with good family and lot of property. God permits Satan to cast disasters and plagues upon Job. First, Satan destroys Job's property, then his family, and finally he strikes Job himself and causes him to become ill.
In later Jewish mythology, Satan tries to rebel against God but the rebellion fails and God send him to exile into hell (concept that didn't exists in Judaism and was embraced from Christianity).
Names of the Devil
The Original Names
Originally no proper name was attributed to the Devil but only one epithet, satan, (adversary), which, capitalised, remained as his proper name: Satan. So he is mentioned in the Old and New Testament.
But in the New Testament, in Matthew 10:25 and 12:24, Mark 3:22, and openly in Luke 11:18-19 Satan is compared with Beelzebub, originally a Semitic deity called Baal-zebul, one of the Baals. Since that moment Beelzebub became another name for Satan.
In John 12:31 and 14:30 Satan is called Prince of this World, and this became a nickname for him.
The Beast (Book of Revelation 13:1-18) is a term John used to refer to a "puppet" of the dragon's (Satan), and a term supposedly used by John in Revelation 17:3-17 to design the Devil (or the Antichrist); this name appears several times in the book of Revelation, and it became another of his nicknames.
Dragon is another epithet for the Devil, as well as The Old Serpent (Revelation 12:9). Dragon is used several times in the same book.
In Spanish, the Devil has always been referred to as El Diablo or Satanas. El Diablo is also a derivate of Diabolos.
The Division of an Entity in Three
Later, when the Bible was translated into Latin (the Vulgate), appeared the name Lucifer as a translation of Morning Star (the planet Venus), in Isaiah 14:12. But if we take only this allusion we are out of context, because Isaiah 14:1-23 speaks about Babylon and its king, being the Morning Star the Babylonian king, of godly status, being his symbolic divine parents Bel and Ishtar (associated with the planet Venus); this can be seen by reading any Babylonian cuneiform text, but by the time of the translation of the Bible and the subsequent biblical exegesis that took the text as a comparison with the Devil these cuneiform clay tablets and their translation were not available, and the mythology and customs the Israelites had learnt during their captivity in Babylon had been forgotten. Early Christian tradition interpreted the word and the entire paragraph referring to Satan, his fell of grace, and the moment he was thrown from Heaven, identifying this name with him, and Lucifer became another name for Satan; due to the Christian dogma and popular tradition, so it will remain.
But this was not enough. Christian demonologists later turned Satan, Lucifer, and Beelzebub into different entities, with a different rank in the hellish hierarchy. According to who wrote on them, Lucifer or Satan used to be the chief of all demons. Why? There is no answer; nobody gave an explanation for this.
Perhaps the fact that many ignorant people (as instructions was uncommon for most population) was interrogated during the witch trials collaborated, because one person could answer "my master is Lucifer", another "I made a pact with Satan", etc., not having these people knowledge of the different names of the Devil, and being sometimes suggested the name to them by the interrogator, depending on how he called the Devil in that moment. But this cannot explain that demonologists that supposedly had this knowledge (many of them were priests, with important studies) continued using these names for different entities coexisting in the same Hell.
It could also be supposed that this might have been an attempt to establish a hellish trinity with the same person, as the Christian Trinity has three persons in one with Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
In Christian Tradition
However, in Christian tradition but not in Christian demonology, Satan, Lucifer and Beelzebub mean "the Devil", and Prince of this World, The Beast and Dragon (and rarely Serpent or The Old Serpent) use to be elliptic forms to refer to him. The Enemy, The Evil One and The Tempter are also elliptic forms to name the Devil. Christian tradition has many nicknames for Satan, but not demonology.
It must be noted that Mephistopheles is used by some people to refer to the Devil, but it is a mere folkloric custom, and has nothing to do with Christian demonology and Christian tradition. Prince of Darkness and Lord of Darkness are also folkloric names, although Lord of Darkness tends to be incorporated to Christian tradition.
See Also
- Mephistopheles
- Samael
- Satan
- Names of the demons
- The Antichrist and the last days
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Devil."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Ichthyologically
For the Ichthyological meaning of Satan see: Satan eurystomus
Theologically
Satan (from the Hebrew שטן satan or Aramaic שטנא satana meaning "accuser, adversary") is an angel mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, the Apocrypha and the New Testament. In the Hebrew Bible Satan is presented as an angel that tests mankind, yet who works for God; in the Apocrypha and New Testament Satan appears as an evil rebellious angel who is the enemy of God and mankind.
Satan is generally viewed as a supernatural entity who is the central embodiment of evil. Satan is also commonly known as the Devil, the "Prince of Darkness", Beelzebub, Mephistopheles, and Lucifer. In the Talmud and some works of Kabbalah Satan is sometimes called Samael; however most Jewish literature is of the opinion that Samael is a separate angel. In the fields of angelology and demonology these different names sometimes refer to a number of different angels and demons, and there is significant disagreement as to whether any of these entities is actually evil. In Islam, Satan is known as Iblis, who was the chief of the angels until he disobeyed Allah by refusing to prostrate himself before Adam.
The Image of Satan
Satan is usually depicted as a horned monster waving around a pitchfork; however this imagery is likely a corruption of the Greek God Pan.
There is a long running cliché image of Satan as being a dark foreboding looking human with a pointy goatee. In some accounts Satan is described as actually being rather handsome. The logic behind this conclusion is likely that people are more likely to trust and handsome face than an ugly one; as such they're more easily deceived. However none of these depictions are likely to be accurate.
It is a belief among some that Satan actually completely lacks a physical body and as such cannot be seen or described visually. One explanation for this theory is the pre-existence concept popular among the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (See also Mormons). This concept is basically that everyone existed in spirit before coming to Earth, during this time Satan was said to have opposed the Plan of Salvation and was banished for doing so. As such he never came to Earth and never received a physical body.
In the Hebrew Bible
The concept of Satan as being an evil entity is one that evolved over many centuries.
Different uses of the word "Satan"
The Hebrew word "Satan" is used in the Hebrew Bible with the general connotation of "adversary," being applied to:
- to an enemy in war (I Kings v. 18; xi. 14, 23, 25), from which use is developed the concept of a traitor in battle (I Sam. xxix. 4)
- an accuser before the judgment-seat (Ps. cix. 6); and (3) to any opponent (II Sam. xix. 23).
- An antagonist who puts obstacles in the way, as in Num. xxii. 32, where the angel of God is described as opposing Balaam in the guise of a satan or adversary; so that the concept of Satan as a distinct being was not then known
- As an angel who works for God, and acts as a prosecuting attorney against mankind (the Book of Job).
Satan as an accuser
Where Satan does appear as an angel, he is clearly a member of God's court and plays the role of the Accuser (possibly one of a number), much like a prosecuting attorney for God. Such a view is found in the prologue to the Book of Job, where Satan appears, together with other celestial beings, before God, replying to the inquiry of God as to whence he had come, with the words: "From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it" (Job i. 7). Both question and answer, as well as the dialogue which follows, characterize Satan as that member of the divine council who watches over human activity, but with the purpose of searching out men's sins and appearing as their accuser. He is, therefore, the celestial prosecutor, who sees only iniquity; for he persists in his evil opinion of Job even after he has passed successfully through his first trial by surrendering to the will of God, whereupon Satan demands another test through physical suffering (ib. ii. 3-5).
It is evident from the prologue that Satan has no power of independent action, but requires the permission of God, which he may not transgress. Satan is not an opponent of God. This view is also retained in Zech. iii. 1-2, where Satan is described as the adversary of the high priest Joshua, and of the people of God whose representative the hierarch is; and he there opposes the "angel of the Lord," who bids him be silent in the name of God. In both of these passages Satan is a mere accuser who acts only according to the permission of the Deity.
In I Chron. xxi. 1 Satan appears as one who is able to provoke David to destroy Israel. The Chronicler (third century B.C.) regards Satan as an independent agent, a view which is the more striking since the source whence he drew his account (II Sam. xxiv. 1) speaks of God Himself as the one who moved David against the children of Israel. Since the older conception refers all events, whether good or bad, to God alone (I Sam. xvi. 14; I Kings xxii. 22; Isa. xlv. 7; etc.), it is possible that the Chronicler, and perhaps even Zechariah, were influenced by Zoroastrianism, even though in the case of the prophet Jewish monism strongly opposed Iranian dualism.
In the Apocrypha
In Wisdom ii. 24 Satan is represented, with reference to Gen. iii., as the author of all evil, who brought death into the world; he is apparently mentioned also in Ecclus. (Sirach) xxi. 27, and the fact that his name does not occur in Daniel is doubtless due merely to chance. Satan was the seducer and the paramour of Eve, and was hurled from heaven together with other angels because of his iniquity (Slavonic Book of Enoch, xxix. 4 et seq.). Since that time he has been called "Satan," although previously he had been termed "Satanel" (ib. xxxi. 3 et seq.).
The doctrine of the fall of Satan, as well as of the fall of the angels, is found also in Babylonia. Satan rules over an entire host of angels (Martyrdom of Isaiah, ii. 2; Vita Adæ et Evæ, xvi.). Mastema, who induced God to test Abraham through the sacrifice of Isaac, is identical with Satan in both name and nature (Book of Jubilees, xvii. 18), and the Asmodeus of the Book of Tobit is likewise to be identified with him, especially in view of his licentiousness. As the lord of satans he not infrequently bears the special name Samael.
It is difficult to identify Satan in any other passages of the Apocrypha, since the originals in which his name occurred have been lost, and the translations employ various equivalents. An "argumentum a silentio" can not, therefore, be adduced as proof that concepts of Satan were not wide-spread; but it must rather be assumed that reference to him and his realm is often implied in the mention of evil spirits.
In the New Testament
Satan figures much more prominently in the New Testament and in Christian theology generally. As reflected in John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost, Satan is believed to have been an archangel named Lucifer who turned against God before the creation of man. (Prophesies in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 are sometimes thought to be referring to Satan, rather than to the earthly king that a plain or literal reading of the text suggests.) According to this view, Satan waged war against God, his creator, and was banished from Heaven because of this.
The creation story found in the book of Genesis reports that a serpent tempted Adam and Eve to partake of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. In the Jewish tradition, the serpent was always taken to be literally a snake; the story tells us the origin of how the snake lost its legs. Later Christian theologies interpreted this serpent to be Satan, to the point where many American Christians are unaware that the actual Hebrew text does not identify the serpent as Satan. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Satan is one of humanity's three enemies, along with sin and death.
According to most Christian eschatology, Satan will wage a final war against Jesus, before being cast into Hell for all eternity. The Unification Church teaches that Satan will be restored in the last days and become a good angel again (see Lucifer, A Criminal Against Humanity). A few early Church Fathers are known to have prayed for Satan's eventual repentance, it was not generally believed that this would happen.
In various Gnostic sects, Satan was praised as the giver of knowledge, sometimes with references to Lucifer, "the light-bringer." Some claimed that the being imagined as God by Christians and Jews was in fact Satan, as a world as imperfect as ours could not be created by a perfect God.
Particularly in the Medieval period, Satan was often depicted as having horns and a goat's hindquarters. He has also been depicted as carrying a pitchfork, and with a forked tail. None of these images seem to be based on Biblical materials. Rather, this image is apparently based on the Horned God, specifically Pan/Dionysus, common to many western mythologies. Whether or not the horned Satan was created intentionally to discredit the God of other religions is unknown, but it has been alleged.
Satanists
There are historical records of people worshiping Satan, though their authenticity is sometimes questioned. Today, some people identify themselves as Satanists. Of these, some claim that Satan is a real being, some view him as a symbol for the animal desires of humans, and some view him as a symbol for the rebellious or independent aspects of humanity. Some Christians believe that most or all other religions are satanic, that is, influenced by and supported by the power of Satan. Many Protestant Christians in the USA believe that all forms of Christianity other than their own are actually disguised versions of Satanism. The Catholic Church is the most common, but by no means the only, target of such accusations.
Among polytheists
Paganism is one of the religions most often seen as satanic by some Christians (see Jack Chick). However, this is a minority view and one not held by most mainstream Christians, and Neopagans are somewhat sensitive to these accusations. While Neopagans often include deities of other religions in their practice, they almost never include Satan.
Some individuals identifying themselves with the New Age thought process believe that Satan, or Lucifer, was the leader of extraterrestrials who came to Earth and waged a galactic war with another extraterrestrial group lead by one now referred to as "God". This is not necessarily the belief of those standing behind that system of thought.
In rabbinic literature
Early rabbinic Jewish statements in the Mishnah and Talmud show that Satan played little or no role in Jewish theology. In the course of time, however, Judaism absorbed the popular concepts of Satan, which doubtless forced their way gradually from the lower classes to the most cultured. The later a rabbinc work can be dated the more frequent is the mention therein of Satan and his hosts.
The Palestinian Talmud, completed about 450 CE, is more reticent in this regard; and this is the more noteworthy since its provenience is the same as that of the New Testament.
In a midrash (Genesis Rabbah) Samael, the lord of the satans, was a mighty prince of angels in heaven (Gen. R. xix.). Satan came into the world with woman, i.e., with Eve (Midrash Yalk., Gen. i. 23); so that he was created and is not eternal. Like all celestial beings, he flies through the air (Genesis Rabbah xix.), and can assumeany form, as of a bird (Talmud, Sanhedrin 107a), a stag (ib. 95a), a woman (Ḳid. 81a), a beggar, or a young man (Tan., Wayera, end); he is said to skip (Talmud Pesachim 112b; Meg. 11b), in allusion to his appearance in the form of a goat.
In some works some rabbis hold that Satan is the incarnation of all evil, and his thoughts are devoted to the destruction of man. In this view, Satan, the impulse to evil and the angel of death are one and the same personality. Satan seizes upon even a single word which may be prejudicial to man; so that "one should not open his mouth unto evil," i.e., "unto Satan" (Talmud Berachot 19a). In times of danger likewise he brings his accusations (Palestinian Talmud, Shabbat 5b). While he has power over all the works of man (Talmud Berachot 46b), he can not prevail at the same time against two individuals of different nationality; so that Samuel, a noted astronomer and teacher of the Law (d. at Nehardea 247), would start on a journey only when a Gentile traveled with him (Shab. 32a).
Satan's knowledge is circumscribed; for when the shofar is blown on New-Year's Day he is "confounded" (R. H. 16b; Yer. Targ. to Num. x. 10). On the Day of Atonement his power vanishes; for the numerical value of the letters of his name (See gematria) is only 364, one day being thus exempt from his influence (Yoma 20a).
If Satan does not attain his purpose, as was the case in his temptation of Job, he feels great sorrow (B. B. 16a); and it was a terrible blow to him, as the representative of moral evil, that the Torah, the incarnation of moral good, should be given to Israel. He endeavored to overthrow it, and finally led the people to make the golden calf (Shab. 89a; Yer. Targ. to Ex. xxxii. 1), while the two tables of the Law were bestowed on Moses of necessity without Satan's knowledge (Sanh. 26b).
One rabbi notes that Satan was an active agent in the fall of man (Midrash Pirke R. El. xiii., beginning), and was the father of Cain (ib. xxi.), while he was also instrumental in the offering of Isaac (Tan., Wayera, 22 [ed. Stettin, p. 39a]), in the release of the animal destined by Esau for his father (Tan., Toledot, 11), in the theophany at Sinai, in the death of Moses (Deut. R. xiii. 9), in David's sin with Bath-sheba (Sanh. 95a), and in the death of Queen Vashti (Meg. 11a). The decree to destroy all the Jews, which Haman obtained, was written on parchment brought by Satan (Esther R. iii. 9). When Alexander the Great reproached the Jewish sages with their rebellion, they made the plea that Satan had been too mighty for them (Tamid 32a).
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Satan."
| The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted. | |||
| Entry | Source | Expression | Field |
DEVIL | English | Direct Evaluation of Indexed Language | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |||
Synonyms: DevilSynonyms: daemon (n), daimon (n), demon (n), deuce (n), dickens (n), fiend (n), heller (n), hellion (n), monster (n), ogre (n), the Devil (n), the Tempter (n), annoy (v), bother (v), chafe (v), get at (v), get to (v), gravel (v), irritate (v), nark (v), nettle (v), rag (v), rile (v), vex (v). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Bad Man | Villain, rascal, scoundrel, miscreant, budmash, caitiff; wretch, reptile, viper, serpent, basilisk, urchin; tiger, monster; devil; (demon); devil incarnate; demon in human shape, Nana Sahib; hellhound, hellcat; rakehell. |
Demon | Noun: demon, daemon, demonry, demonology; evil genius, fiend, familiar, daeva, devil; bad spirit, unclean spirit; cacodemon, incubus, Eblis, shaitan, succubus, succuba; Frankenstein's monster; Shedim, Mephistopheles, Asmodeus, Moloch, Belial, Ahriman; fury, harpy; Friar Rush. |
Pungency | Render -pungent. Adjective: season, spice, salt, pepper, pickle, brine, devil. smoke, chew, take snuff. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | If you want to shake hands with the devil, that's fine with me. I'll just make sure that you do it in hell (Mission: Impossible; writing credit: Bruce Geller; David Koepp) How do you shoot the devil in the back (The Usual Suspects; writing credit: Christopher McQuarrie) My audiences miss the white devil in their midst (M. Butterfly; writing credit: David Henry Hwang.) Ya know, my father used to say, every man's got a devil, and you can't rest until you find him. But if it's any consolation to you, you have put a smile on my face (The Crow; writing credit: David J. Schow, John Shirley) You want to shake hands with the devil, that's fine with me. I just want to make sure that you do it in hell (Mission: Impossible; writing credit: David Koepp and Robert Towne. Based on the television series) | |
Lyrics | And the devil jumped ("The Devil Went Down to Georgia"; performing artist: Charlie Daniels Band) With the devil in your eyes (What It Takes; performing artist: Aerosmith) Shakes the devil when he missbehaves (CRADLE OF LOVE; performing artist: Billy Idol) Of the devil himself (One Of These Nights; performing artist: Eagles) 'Cause the devil wants to know (Criminal; performing artist: Fiona Apple) | |
Clever | May you get to Heaven a half hour before the Devil knows you're dead. (references; author: Irish Proverb) Never give the Devil a ride. He will always want to drive. (references; author: unknown) The next time the Devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future. (references; author: unknown) The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn't exist. (references; author: unknown) | |
Movie/TV Titles | The Devil in Her (1974) Devil in the Flesh (1974) Sexorcist Devil (1974) The Devil and Leroy Bassett (1973) Poor Devil (1973) | |
Song Titles | Devil Inside (performing artist: INXS) Devil Woman (performing artist: Marty Robbins) Devil With A Blue Dress On (performing artist: Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels) The Devil Went Down to Georgia (performing artist: The Charlie Daniels Band) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
Books | |||
Periodicals |
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Theater & Movies | |||
Music |
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High Tech |
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Consumer Goods | |||
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | Local schoolchildren from the Half Moon Bay area repaint the decoys that were used to attract common murres back to Devil Slide Rock. Credit: NOAA Restoration Center. |  | Devil Slide Rock from the water. Credit: NOAA Restoration Center. |
 | Metate found on Devil Creek Fire RehabArcheologyLSRDLower Snake River District. Credit: Wyatt. |  | Dust devil in a dry lake bed. Credit: Tillman. |
 | Lithograph by J. Mayer & Co., published in 1863 by G.W. Tomlinson, Boston, Massachusetts. The print features, in its lower right, small drawings of a monitor (labeled "The Ericsson Devil"), USS Keokuk, Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie and Castle Pinckney. Along its right side are descriptions of Charleston's defenses. Credit: NAVY. |  | What I know about raising the devil. Credit: Library of Congress. |
 | Devil doffing top hat to Kaiser Wilhelm. Credit: Library of Congress. |  | Old bearded man taking hat and gloves of devil. Credit: Library of Congress. |
 | A dime? what the devil do you want a dime for? ... Credit: Library of Congress. |  | Twixt the devil and the deep sea / Berryman. Credit: Library of Congress. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
 |
| "Angel & devil lamp 1" by Julia Eisenberg Commentary: "Angle & devil lamp." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. |
| Play | Caption |
 | Cackle; cackling; evil; sinister; Mephistophelean; accursed; devil; cursed; damnable; damned; demoniac; demonic; detestable; diabolic; diabolical; execrable; fiendish; hellborn; hellish; hell; infernal; iniquitous; nefarious; satanic; serpentine; unhallow. |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Author | Quotation |
Francois Rabelais | Speak the truth and shame the Devil. |
Frantois Rabelais | Tell the truth and shame the devil. |
Martin Luther | The devil is God's ape! |
| The Devil does not stay where music is. | |
Samuel Taylor Coleridge | Talk of the devil, and his horns appear. |
Thomas Carlyle | The devil has his elect. |
Thomas Fuller | The devil himself is good when he is pleased. |
William Shakespeare | The devil can cite scripture for his purpose. |
| The devil hath power to assume a pleasing shape. | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Title | Author | Quote |
Les Miserables | Hugo, Victor | A poor devil, on returning to his garret, would find that his door had been opened, sometimes even forced, during his absence |
Absalom and Achitophel | John Dryden | So over violent, or over civil, That every man with him was God or Devil. |
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man | Joyce, James | The devil, once a shining angel, a son of the morning, now a foul fiend, came in the shape of a serpent, the subtlest of all the beasts of the field |
King Richard III | Shakespeare, William | Alas, I blame you not, for you are mortal, And mortal eyes cannot endure the devil. |
Grapes of Wrath | Steinbeck, John | Now I know who the devil is. |
Walden | Thoreau, Henry David | The devil goes on exacting compound interest to the last for his early share and numerous succeeding investments in them |
The Merchant of Venice | William Shakespeare | The Devil can cite scripture to suit his purpose |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Civil Liberties | Kenya | The missionaries openly promote their religious beliefs and have encountered little resistance; however, some missionary groups expressed concern following the 1999 release of the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Devil Worship. (references) |
Egypt | Confiscated works included poetry by Lebanese poet Joseph Harb, two novels and an autobiography by Egyptian feminist Nawal al-Sa'adawi, "Crazy Stories," by Egyptian author Yehia Ibrahim, three works ("The Tent," "The Naked Bread," and "al-Shutar") by Moroccan author Mohammed Shukri, "The Merciful and the Devil," by Syrian author Firas al-Sawah, "Politics between the Permitted and the Forbidden," by Saudi Arabian author Turki Hamad, two works ("Fear of Modernism" and "Are you Shielded from the Harem?") by Moroccan feminist Fatma al-Mernissi, and "A Banquet for Seaweed," by Syrian author Haidar Haidar. (references) | |
Economic History | Bolivia | The devil dances at the annual carnival of Oruro are one of the great folkloric events of South America, as is the lesser known carnival at Tarabuco. (references) |
Lexicography | Devil's Dictionary | BENEDICTINES, n. An order of monks otherwise known as black friars. She thought it a crow, but it turn out to be A monk of St. Benedict croaking a text. "Here's one of an order of cooks," said she -- "Black friars in this world, fried black in the next." "The Devil on Earth" (London, 1712) |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| "Devil" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 86.19% of the time. "Devil" is used about 1,281 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (singular) | 86.19% | 1,104 | 6,853 |
| Noun (proper) | 11.78% | 151 | 25,596 |
| Lexical Verb (base form) | 1.48% | 19 | 80,337 |
| Noun (common) | 0.31% | 4 | 175,879 |
| Lexical Verb (infinitive) | 0.23% | 3 | 202,518 |
| Total | 100.00% | 1,281 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| The following table summarizes names derived from the word "Devil". | |||
| Name | Gender | Language | Meaning |
| Chesed | N/A | Biblical | As a devil |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references.
| |||
Expressions using "Devil": a bit of a devil ♦ a devil incarnate ♦ a devil of a fellow ♦ a devil of a mess ♦ a devil of a noise ♦ a devil of a problem ♦ a poor devil ♦ apache devil dance ♦ be a devil to work ♦ between the devil and the deep sea ♦ blue devil ♦ carry on like the devil ♦ Cartesian devil ♦ cheeky devil ♦ cunning devil ♦ dancing devil ♦ dare devil ♦ devil a bit! ♦ devil a one ♦ devil bird ♦ devil Book ♦ devil dog ♦ devil fish ♦ devil for smb. ♦ devil grass ♦ devil incarnate ♦ devil lily ♦ devil liquor ♦ Devil may care ♦ devil nettle ♦ devil of a boy ♦ devil of a fellow ♦ Devil ray ♦ devil take him! ♦ devil take it! ♦ devil to pay ♦ devil tree ♦ Devil worship ♦ devil worshiper ♦ dust devil ♦ eat a devil ♦ give the Devil his due ♦ give the devil his due! ♦ go to the devil ♦ have a devil ♦ have a devil in one ♦ have devil ♦ he is a crafty devil ♦ hold a candle to the devil ♦ how the devil do you know that? ♦ it's a devil of a go! ♦ Kill Devil Hills ♦ king devil ♦ lead smb. the devil of a life ♦ like the devil ♦ limb of the devil ♦ little devil ♦ lucky devil ♦ machinations of the devil ♦ mountain devil ♦ mud devil ♦ native devil ♦ pay the devil ♦ play the devil with ♦ play the very devil among ♦ poor devil ♦ possessed by a devil ♦ Printer's devil ♦ printer's devil copyholder ♦ raise the devil ♦ Red Devil ♦ sand devil ♦ scary devil monastery ♦ sea devil ♦ sell one's soul to the devil ♦ speak of the devil ♦ talk of the devil ♦ talk of the devil and he will appear ♦ talk on the devil ♦ Tasmanain devil ♦ tasmanian devil ♦ the devil ♦ the devil a bit ♦ the devil among the tailors ♦ the devil being in one ♦ the devil is in it! ♦ the devil take the hindmost ♦ the devil to pay ♦ the poor devil ♦ there is the devil to pay ♦ thorn devil ♦ To play devil with ♦ To raise the devil ♦ twilly devil ♦ water devil ♦ what the devil ♦ what the devil are you doing? ♦ who the devil are you?. Additional references. | |
| Hyphenated Usage | |
Beginning with "Devil": devil-breath, devil-cat, devil-damned, devil-dance, devil-dark, Devil-diver, devil-dodger, devil-doll, devil-frenchman, devil-like, devil-loving, devil-made-flesh, devil-man, devil-mask, devil-may-care, devil-may-care-image, devil-s turnip, devil-sent, devil-take-the-hindmost, Devil-woman, devil-worship, devil-worshipper, devil-worshippers, devil-worshipping, devil-you-know. | |
Ending with "Devil": a she-devil, ape-devil, Dare-devil, folk-devil, go-devil, kill-devil, she-devil. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day | Expression | Frequency per Day |
devil | 3,238 | 2 cheat cry devil may | 285 |
new jersey devil | 2,433 | 2 cry devil may through walk | 258 |
devil may cry | 1,894 | devil claw | 254 |
tampa bay devil ray | 1,024 | devil advocate | 248 |
devil may cry 2 | 996 | cheat for devil may cry | 245 |
dirt devil | 762 | devil may cry walk through | 228 |
tazmanian devil | 762 | devil tattoo | 215 |
nj devil | 729 | the devil went down to georgia | 209 |
tasmanian devil | 496 | cartoon devil | 182 |
devil tower | 466 | blue devil | 168 |
jersey devil | 448 | devil prada wear | 164 |
devil lake | 427 | kill devil hills | 143 |
devil ray | 415 | devil pic | 140 |
devil doll | 373 | devil lake wisconsin | 139 |
dare devil | 367 | red devil firework | 137 |
devil picture | 341 | devil den | 136 |
pool devil | 336 | devil lake state park | 134 |
devil lake north dakota | 329 | devil net | 129 |
red devil | 325 | angel and a devil | 124 |
kill devil hills nc | 299 | she devil | 122 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Translations for "Devil"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Afrikaans | josie, duiwel. (various references) | |
Albanian | dreq (daemon, demon, Deuce, Dickens, fiend, heck, heller, hellion, imp, Satan), djallë, djall (archenemy, archfiend, Beelzebub, Belial, daemon, demon, fiend, imp, Lucifer, old nick, old scratch, Satan), demon (daemon, demon), shkrimtar i padukshëm, shejtan (brat, elfin, impish, mischievous, monkey, puckish, scallywag, scampish, sea cock, varmint, villain), njeri shumë i shkathët, njeri dinak, lanet (demon, rascal). (various references) | |
Arabic | فرم (chop, hash, mince, rip), ناكد (gall, nag), عذب (agonize, agreeable, bedevil, benign, charming, chasten, crucify, dulcet, freshen, grilled, harrow, harry, hearty, leisurely, liquid, murder, palmy, persecute, pillory, plague, quiet, rack, rack one's brains, scourge, silken, silky, sleek, smite, smooth, smooth spoken, soft, suave, sweet, sympathetic, tantalize, tease, tender, torment, torture, wrench, wring), خادم فى مطبعة, إبليس (prince of darkness, satan), شيطان (archenemy, bally, demon, familiar, fiend, lucifer, pestilential, pixy, prince of darkness, puckish, satan, serpent), شخص شرير (reprobate), شرير (bad, black, black-hearted, dark, diabolic, diabolical, evil, ill, iniquitous, maleficent, malicious, malign, nasty, naughty, rascally, reprobate, rogue, roguish, rude, sinister, spiteful, unholy, vicious, wicked), بائس (afflicted, cheerless, deplorable, desolate, disconsolate, distressed, forlorn, godforsaken, hapless, heel, helpless, lamentable, measly, miserable, paltry, pathetic, penurious, piteous, pitiful, poor, poverty stricken, ratty, sad, scruffy, seedy, sickly, sordid, squalid, unfortunate, unhappy, woeful, wretched). (various references) | |
Bulgarian | сатана (archenemy, archfiend, hell-hound), зъл човек, дявол (demon, fiend, hell-hound, minx, scamp), дарак (carder). (various references) | |
Chinese | 魔鬼 , 魔 , 恶魔, 妖怪 (monster), 妖 (bewitching, enchanting, goblin, monster, phantom, witch). (various references) | |
Czech | luciper, ďábel, ïábel (fiend), èert (old scratch). (various references) | |
Danish | djævel. (various references) | |
Dutch | duivel (demon), drommel, droes (dross), boze. (various references) | |
Esperanto | diablo. (various references) | |
Faeroese | djevul, illimaður, hin fánýti, fani. (various references) | |
Farsi | نویسنده مزدور (Hack), تندوتیزکردن غذا, روح پلید, شیطان (Arch, Bogey, Deuce, Impish, Mischievous, Naughty, Tempter), باماشین خردکردن . (various references) | |
Finnish | piru, hitto. (various references) | |
French | diable (demon, Deuce). (various references) | |
Frisian | duvel, koarthakke. (various references) | |
German | teufel (demon, demons, Deuce, deuces, devils, fiend, heck, Satan, terror). (various references) | |
Greek | σατανάσ (daemon, demon, fiend, prince of darkness, tempter), περίδρομοσ (stomach ache), ο εξαποδώ (Satan), διάβολοσ, διάβολος (Old Nick, Satan). (various references) | |
Hawaiian | djallë. (various references) | |
Hebrew | שטן (adversary, arch enemy, fiend, prince of darkness, serpent), פגע רע (demon, troublesome person), סמאל (sammael). (various references) | |
Hungarian | sátán (arch enemy, arch-enemy, arch-fiend, Belial, bogy, prince of darkness, Satan, tempter), ördög (auld hornie, auld horny, black bogy, bogy, bogy man, dickens, fiend, his sable majesty, mephistopheles, prince of darkness, Satan). (various references) | |
Icelandic | djöfull. (various references) | |
Indonesian | setan (demon, fiend, imp, satan), iblis (demon). (various references) | |
Italian | diavolo (Deuce, Dickens), demonio (daemon, demon, fiend). (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 悪魔 (demon, evil spirit, fiend, Satan). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | デビル , まおう, ましん (evil spirit, measles), まじん (evil spirit), ま (demon, due, evil spirit evil influence, genuine, just, pause, pure, right, room, space, time, true), いじん (barbarian, different person, foreigner, great man), あくま (demon, evil spirit, fiend, Satan), あっき (demon, evil spirit), じゃき (evil spirit, imp, maliciousness, noxious gas), えんま (ruler of Hades). (various references) | |
Korean | 악마 (daemon, demon). (various references) | |
Malay | setan. (various references) | |
Manx | mac mollaght (cuss, hell-hound, viper, viper of person), mac imshee (hell-hound, son of perdition), jouyl (demon), iurinagh (hellish, inhabitant of hell). (< |
