devilismn.
/ˈdɛvl̩ɪz(ə)m/, /ˈdɛvᵻlɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˈdɛvlˌɪz(ə)m/, /ˈdɛvəˌlɪz(ə)m/ Now chiefly historical.
1. Action or conduct characteristic of a devil; devilishness; wickedness, evil.In early use often not clearly distinguishable from sense 2; it has been assumed that this sense is intended unless devil worship, or practices associated with this, are mentioned or alluded to in the context.
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
1647 J. Goodwin Hagiomastix 1 The very inquiring and asking after Truth, is made wickednesse and blasphemy, impudence, audaciousnesse, yea little lesse then Atheisme, or Devilisme it selfe.
1693 J. Norris Pract. Disc. Divine Subj. III. 249 To the highest pitch of Impiety, to the very ridge of Develism.
1726 D. Defoe Polit. Hist. Devil ii. iv. 238 Such a Perfection of Devilism as that of the Inquisition.
1820 Examiner 20 Feb. 113/1 The deliberate devilism of the tortures.
1892 W. W. Peyton Mem. Jesus xvi. 451 The devilism in human nature is that which wants bread by which to live in the body, and seeks not the interest of the soul.
1918 Tribune (Wakarusa, Indiana) 25 Apr. A sense of security in having strengthened our defences against devilism.
1955 Amer. Imago 12 271 By suppression of diabolism in others, they [sc. temperance leaders] hoped to conquer their own devilism.
2010 Guardian 10 Sept. 13/1 The town's conservative establishment prosecuted him for his outspokenness—one priest called it devilism.
2. Worship of the Devil or devils; practices or rites thought to involve devils.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > kinds of worship > [noun] > of devils, demons, or the Devil
devil worship1533
demonomany1597
demon worshipa1638
demonomy1638
diabolism1650
demonolatry1655
devil-worshipping1677
devilism1688
demoniculture1879
demonism1920
1688 J. Bunyan Good News for Vilest of Men 26 Ephraim was a Revolter from God, a man that had given up himself to Devilism: A company of men, the ten Tribes, that worshiped Devils, while Judah kept with his God.
1726 D. Defoe Polit. Hist. Devil ii. viii. 331 If any wicked desperate Wretches have made Bargain and Sale with Satan, their only Way is to repent, if they know how..; play Religion against Devilism, and perhaps they may drive the Devil out of their Reach.
1773 E. Ives Voy. India 317 The Sanjacks..once professed Christianity, then Mahometanism, and last of all Devilism.
1834 Essex Standard 24 May Viewed in its tempers and tendencies, Jacobism is Devilism—Belialism.
a1869 J. C. Philpot Sermons (1991) XII. 140 This is devilism, a false religion, worshipping some lust or corruption under the mask of religion.
1902 Atlanta Constit. 28 Sept. In this way they are initiated into the first rites of the devil worshipers or devilism.
2010 N. S. Murrell Afro-Caribbean Relig. ix. 191 The Catholic Church labeled Umbanda ‘a den of ignorance, magic, sorcery’, superstition and devilism.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1647