devilwardn.adv.adj.
/ˈdɛvlwəd/, U.S. /ˈdɛv(ə)lwərd/ The direction of the Devil; hell, damnation. Only in to (the) devilward. Cf. hellward n. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > hell > [noun]
helleOE
hellOE
perditiona1382
perishingc1384
welling woea1400
hellwardc1400
Topheta1425
gehenne1481
to devilwardc1550
limbo1581
Averna1592
Hades1597
Sheol1599
other place1604
underworld1608
infernals1613
gehenna1623
lower world1639
netherworld1640
pandemonium1667
subterrenea1711
diablerie1776
inferno1834
ballyhooly1837
nether region1839
Sam Hill1839
Ballyhack1843
tunket1871
bogydom1880
c1550 C. Bansley Treat. Pryde & Abuse of Women sig. A.iiv Rubbe forthe olde Trottes to the deuyl warde.
1571 R. Cavendish Image Nature f. 108 The true testimony of his conscience might assure him, that all the rest of the weeke after, he were gallopping to the deuilward.
1646 P. Hobson Pract. Divinity iii. 109 Wee..are drawne downward to the Creature, to the World, to Hell-ward, to Divell-ward.
B. adv. (and adj.)
Towards or in the direction of the Devil; to hell or damnation. Also occasionally as adj. Cf. hellward adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > hell > [adverb] > towards hell
into the grave of hellc1585
devilward1632
hellwards1662
hellward1885
1632 T. Hooker Soules Prepar. for Christ 248 These wheels [of this curious clock of the soule] do naturally of themselves run all helward, and sin-ward, and devil-ward.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. II. i. iv. 39 And tended either Godward, or else Devilward.
1916 Year Bk. Holland Soc. N.Y. 1909 145 Optimism looks up, looks Godward; pessimism looks down, looks Devilward.
1925 Jefferson (Iowa) Herald 5 Feb. 2/2 The boys and girls of today are floating off devilward, just as rapidly as is possible.
2015 F. A. Murphy Oxf. Handbk. Christology 641 Without an advertent third, devilward, element, soteriologies easily drift into Manicheanism.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adv.adj.c1550