bedevilmentn.
/bɪˈdɛv(ə)lmənt/ 1. Possession by an evil spirit.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > evil spirit or demon > [noun] > familiar or possessing spirit > possession by
wood dreameOE
demoniacal possession1601
possession1601
obsession1607
pythonism1654
demoniac possession1698
endiablementa1734
endemoniasm1751
demon possession1838
demonic possession1853
spirit possession1854
bedevilment1861
diabolepsy1886
1861 ‘A. H. Clington’ Frank O'Donnell 25 Whatever bedevilment seized me, I let some of it [opium] spill into his punch.
1878 P. Robinson In my Indian Garden 18 Are not these unequivocal signs of bedevilment?
2. Maddening or bewildering trouble.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being harassed > [noun] > harassment
baiting1303
cumbrance1377
persecutiona1382
pursuita1387
aggrievancea1400
vexing?a1425
molestation1435
stroublance1439
inquietation1461
distrouble1483
infestance1490
encumberment1509
molesting1523
vexationa1525
inquieting1527
inquietance1531
molestie1532
infestationc1540
moiling1565
plaguing1566
pesterment1593
commacerating1599
molestance1642
harass1667
harassing1689
harassment1753
aggrievement1778
badgering1785
pesteration1802
bedevilment1844
worrying1848
tail-twisting1887
bloodhounding1891
aggravation1902
static1923
crap1935
hassle1969
monstering1979
1844 C. Dickens Let. 28 Nov. (1977) IV. 231 The greater chance of no such bedevilment happening to me.
1882 Rossetti in H. Caine Recoll. 273 Bedevilments thicken: the Garden is ploughed up.
3. Maddening confusion or disorder.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > [noun]
derayc1300
disray13..
disordinancec1374
unordaininga1382
perturbationa1398
disarrayc1410
misordera1513
disorder1530
confusionc1540
mistemper1549
indisposition1598
ataxy1615
disordination1626
indigestion1630
tumble1634
discomposure1641
incomposure1644
dyscrasy1647
dislocation1659
disarrayment1661
disjuncture1683
rack and manger1687
rantum-scantum1695
derangement1737
disarrangement1790
misarray1810
havoc1812
unhingement1817
mingle-mangleness1827
bedevilment1843
higgledy-piggledyness1854
ramshackledom1897
inchoateness1976
1843 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 53 361 The confusion and bedevilment was ten times worse.
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House viii. 67 The Lawyers have twisted it into such a state of bedevilment.
1861 G. A. Sala Twice round Clock 87 What a chaos of cash debtor, contra creditor..brokerage, agio, tare and tret, dock warrants, and general commercial be-devilment!
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1843