diabolishadv.adj.
/dʌɪˈabəlɪʃ/, U.S. /daɪˈæbəˌlɪʃ/ Originally and chiefly U.S. Somewhat rare.† A. adv.
Exceedingly, fiendishly; = devilish adv. Obsolete.
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
1858 O. W. Holmes Autocrat of Breakfast-table in Atlantic Monthly Mar. 624/1 The Professor said it was a diabolish good word.
1860 O. W. Holmes Professor at Breakfast-table xi. 351 This was a diabolish snobby question.
1898 North Adams (Mass.) Evening Transcript 19 July 4/2 The breeze just at present is ‘diabolish’ uncertain in its course.
1922 Coconino (Arizona) Sun 27 Oct. 16/4 Harlow Yaeger was up yesterday from his Canyon Diablo ranches, where he is diabolish busy getting ready to ship his lambs on the eighth of next month.
B. adj.
= devilish adj. (in various senses).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > diabolicalness > [adjective]
devillyOE
fiendenc1315
serpentinec1422
devilish?a1439
diabolic?1483
feding1502
diabolical1546
satanic1556
demoniacal1565
serpent-likea1586
serpentive1635
devilized1641
fiendlike1716
diabolish1865
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adjective] > devilishly wicked
devillyOE
fiendenc1315
serpentinec1422
devilish?a1439
diabolic?1483
diabolical1546
satanical1548
satanic1556
serpent-likea1586
fiendlikea1616
serpentive1635
devilized1641
demoniacal1714
demoniac1784
diabolish1865
1865 U.S. Service Mag. June 515 Why was old Magruder treating us to such a diabolish salute, keeping the pickets out of their natural rest?
1881 London Society Oct. 367/1 [He] affects a great amount of languor and laziness to cover a real energy which is perfectly diabolish.
1916 G. A. England Pod, Bender & Co. x. 238 ‘It's that diabolish inspector, I'll bet a million!’ exclaimed..President Stillings.
2016 wfmu.org 29 Feb. (O.E.D. Archive) A fine noirish drama..with a cool Burt Lancaster and a diabolish Tony Curtis.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.adj.1858