devilmentn.
/ˈdɛvlm(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˈdɛv(ə)lm(ə)nt/ 1.
a. Action performed by, or characteristic, of the Devil or a devil; evildoing, mischief; an instance of this. Also: a devilish, rascally, or rash disposition; mischievousness; wild spirits. Cf. devilry n. 1b.Quot. 1731 could perhaps be interpreted as showing sense 1b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > diabolicalness > [noun] > deed or action
satanitya1626
devilment1731
society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > [noun] > devilish conduct
devilry1533
satanitya1626
devilment1731
the mind > emotion > courage > daring > reckless daring > [noun]
hardydardya1529
audaciousness1598
diablerie1751
devilry1841
devilment1843
daredevilry1859
daredeviltry1881
daredevilism1886
1731 ‘A. Scriblerus’ Gorgoneicon 96 After this, Gentlemen, it will be highly necessary to look over the Clark's Guides, Books of Precedents, and consider well..all Game-tricks, Game-Bulls, Implements, Instruments, Inticements, Inchantments, Bewitchments, Conjurements, and Law-Devilments whatsoever.
1765 B. Bourgeois Disappointed Coxcomb v. iv. 58 Fireball. 'Sdeath and fury! is this enchantment? Stockbank. Devilment!
1771 H. Lawrence Contempl. Man I. ii. viii. 130 I thought some Devilment or other would befal us.
1840 W. M. Thackeray Paris Sketch Bk. I. 132 So little sign of devilment in the accomplishment of his wishes.
1843 C. J. Lever Jack Hinton xxxii. 219 Courtship, fun, frolic, and devilment.
1887 Proc. 11th Convent. Amer. Instructors of Deaf 220 A certain amount of superfluous animal spirits—devilment I have heard it called.
1955 J. M. Cohen tr. F. Rabelais Hist. Gargantua & Pantagruel ii. xvi. 224 He had a collection of needles and thread, with which he performed a thousand little devilments.
1991 J. Waters Jiving at Crossroads vii. 80 Sometimes, for pure devilment, my father would tease him.
2001 J. Murray in M. Hickey Irish Days (2004) 153 The teacher, I suppose, thought it [sc. football] was an easy way to keep fellows out of devilment.
b. An object or thing whose origin is attributed to the Devil or a devil; an evil or cruel device; a devilishly cunning invention. Also: an affliction, a tribulation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > [noun] > contriving or devising > that which is contrived, devised, or invented
fantasyc1440
invention1546
coinage1604
devilment1855
1791 H. Man Hist. Sir Geoffry Restless II. xxi. 8 When the tempests, fogs, and devilments in the atmosphere, will give us leave, we may lift up our eyes, and look at an innumerable display of sparks, called stars, in the sky.
1855 Semi-weekly Raleigh (N. Carolina) Reg. 4 Aug. Pour grape, chain shot, bomb shells..and all sorts of destructive devilments on the burglars.
1871 Standard 20 Jan. Greek fire and fifty other molten devilments may be coruscating among her chimney pots.
1911 Jrnl. Illinois State Hist. Soc. 4 35 They beset him with all sorts of traps, and devilments to drive him out of his office.
1986 Focus Summer 22 (title) Distortions in maps: the Peters projection and other devilments.
2007 Hutchinson (Kansas) News 25 Apr. c2/4 All kinds of respiratory devilments: hacking cough, runny nose, throbbing throat, [etc.].
2. Frequently humorous or playful. A devilled dish; the spicy seasonings or condiments of such a dish; the spicy flavour they impart.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > food by way of preparation > [noun] > highly seasoned dish
curry1598
hogo1649
haut-goût1656
devilment1775
devil1786
piquant1843
pol sambol1949
1775 D. Garrick in G. Colman Posthumous Lett. (1820) 310 Hot cakes and devilments at breakfast.
1847 C. J. Lever Knight of Gwynne xiii. 90 A plain joint..boiled or roasted, without spices or devilment in it.
1903 L. Abercrombie in Black & White 1 Aug. 186/2 The thought of answering them [sc. letters] robbed coffee of aroma, bacon of crispness, and devilled kidneys of devilment.
1926 E. Ferber Show Boat vi. 119 ‘I'll bet it isn't real at all. It's painted on the platter.’ ‘It is not! It's a practical ham, stuffed with all kinds of devilment. The recipe is my mother's.’
2015 Leicester Mercury (Nexis) 20 Nov. 24 Some under-seasoned devilled whitebait, with no discernible devilment.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1731