demonishadj.adv.
/ˈdiːmənɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈdimənɪʃ/ A. adj.
Of the nature of or characteristic of a demon; malevolent, fiendish, evil; (also) mischievous. Now somewhat rare.In quot. 1808 with reference to a disfavoured type of Hindu marriage.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disfavour > [adjective] > disfavoured
gracelessa1413
discountenanced1749
unfavoured1774
demonish1808
disfavoured1865
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [adjective] > mischievous
mischievous1761
demonish1808
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > evil spirit or demon > [adjective]
foulOE
demoniatc1440
demonicalc1475
demoniaclec1500
demoniacal1565
demoniac1603
demonic1642
demonial1658
demonian1671
pishachi1837
demoniatic1855
demonish1863
1808 R. Drummond Illustr. Grammatical Parts Guzerattee, Mahratta & Eng. Gloss. at વેવા Veva The fifth [kind of marriage] is deemed demonish, being by the bridegroom or proxy bargaining with the parents of a virgin to give her into wife for a certain sum.
1832 tr. J. W. von Goethe in London Lit. Gaz. 17 Nov. 731/2 Now foot vies with foot, and heel chases heel, And demonish pranks arise [Ger. Gebärden da gibt es vertrackte].
1863 J. W. Draper Intell. Devel. Europe vii. 159 The cultivation of magic and the necromantic art was fully carried out in Iamblicus... Before the bodily eyes of his pupils, he evoked two visible demonish imps.
1894 Leeds Mercury 14 Apr. 8/4 She grinned a most demonish grin.
1926 D. H. Lawrence Plumed Serpent iii. 55 A profound unbelief that was fatal and demonish.
2002 N. Ricci Testament 97 All along the roadside were shrines to the local gods, little altars in the middle of nowhere or strange, demonish faces carved into the cliffs.
humorous. Very, extremely; = devilish adv. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > extremely or exceedingly > excessively
cruellyc1385
overa1400
fullc1400
parlouslyc1425
mortalc1440
perilousc1440
spitefulc1450
devilish1560
pestilently1567
spitefully1567
cruel1573
parlous1575
deadly1589
intolerable?1593
fellc1600
perditlya1632
excessively1634
devilishly1635
desperate1636
woundya1639
woundlya1644
desperately1653
wicked1663
killing1672
woundily1706
wounded1753
mortally1759
dreadful1762
intolerably1768
perishing1776
tremendously1776
terrifically1777
diabolically1792
woundedly1794
thundering1809
all-firedly1833
preponderously1835
painfully1839
deadlilya1843
severely1854
furiously1856
diabolish1858
fiendish1861
demonish1867
sinfully1869
fiendishly1879
thunderingly1885
only too1889
nightmarishly1891
God almighty1906
Christ almighty1945
1867 O. W. Holmes Guardian Angel iv. 47 ‘It was a demonish hard case’, he said.
Derivatives
ˈdemonishness n. rare demonic nature; fiendishness, devilishness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > diabolicalness > [noun]
devilrya1400
devility1588
devilship1644
devilism1647
diabolicalness1652
diablerie1653
diabolism1660
deviltry1772
demonry1805
diabolicity1861
demonishnessa1930
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [noun] > devilish wickedness
devilrya1400
devility1588
devilship1644
devilism1647
diabolicalness1652
diablerie1653
diabolism1660
deviltry1772
demonry1805
diabolicity1861
infernalism1864
demonishnessa1930
a1930 D. H. Lawrence Pornogr. & So On (1936) 85 Renoir didn't try to get away from the body. But he had to..rob it of..its natural demonishness.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.adv.1808