devilshipn.

lOE Homily (Corpus Cambr. 302) in J. Bazire & J. E. Cross Eleven Old Eng. Rogationtide Homilies (1989) 71 Cristes apostolas, þa wæron onsende on þysne middaneard..forði þonne þæt hi sceolon menn trymman and læran and fullian and deofolscype nyðerian and þeo deofolican lustas adwescan.

c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) 187 (MED) Hi sacrified to deuelshippes, & nouȝt to God.

c1450 (c1410) Dives & Pauper (Lichfield) (1976) i. 25 Why richesse is clepid a deuelschip [?a1450 Bodl. Th d.36 deuelshene, 1493 Pynson deuylship] of wyckidnesse.

1592 T. Nashe Pierce Penilesse (Brit. Libr. copy) sig. D These whelpes of the first lytter of Gentilitie..haue long been on horsebacke to come riding to your Diuelship.

1608 T. Dekker Lanthorne & Candle-light sig. C3 Not satisfied with dooing this wrong to his Diuellshippe, very spitefully hath he sette them out in print.

1624 J. Gee Foot out of Snare 63 His Deuil-ship raues and struggles.

1671 J. Dryden Evening's Love v. 83 Bless his Devilship as I may say.

1739 M. D. tr. Marquis d'Argens Jewish Spy I. xxxii. 236 He called therefore several times to the Devil; but whether his Devilship had other Business at that time upon his Hands, or [etc.].

1760 Impostors Detected I. 52 If her devilship of a wife of his was in such a hurry.

1828 Indiana Jrnl. 25 Sept. They offer up an offering of tobacco to her widowed Devilship, to appease her wrath.

1885 J. Hawthorne Miss Cadogna iv. 45 His delectable little devilship, Señor Asmodeus.

1939 Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 12 Dec. 12/5 They are deeply indebted to His Devilship.

1644 E. Dering Disc. Proper Sacrifice Pref. sig. C2^v It were a devilship of mind to forge such report.

1696 Ess. Friendly Reproof iv. 144 They have got such a Mastery over Shame, as to be throughly prepar'd Candidates of Devilship.

1755 ‘A Gentleman of Oxford’ Devil upon Crutches i. 3 But that damned Work almost deprived me of my Devilship; for I was immediately..summoned to Hell to answer for my Proceedings.

1912 Proc. Royal Irish Acad. 1912–13 C. 30 37 The devilship descends from father to son.

1986 Washington Post 1 June (Book World section) 7/1 There is an apt Russian expression melky bes (a petty devil) and a related concept of melkobesie (petty devilship).