In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the Devil is the most powerful evil spirit.
2. countable noun
A devil is an evil spirit.
...the idea of angels with wings and devils with horns and hoofs.
Synonyms: evil spirit, demon, fiend, ghoul More Synonyms of devil
3. countable noun
You can use devil to emphasize the way you feel about someone. For example, if you call someone a poor devil, you are saying that you feel sorry for them. You can call someone you are fond of but who sometimes annoys or irritates you an old devil or a little devil.
[informal, feelings]
I felt sorry for Blake, poor devil.
Manfred, you're a suspicious old devil.
Susie, you're a determined little devil.
Synonyms: person, individual, soul, creature More Synonyms of devil
4. countable noun
If you refer to someone as a devil, you mean that they do not behave very well but you like them and are not angry with them.
[informal]
'I think he was a bit of a devil,' Constance said.
5.
See a devil of a
6.
See better the devil you know
7.
See have the devil's own job/a devil of a job
8.
See like the devil
9.
See the devil take the hindmost
10.
See between the devil and the deep blue sea
11.
See sell your soul to the devil
12.
See talk/speak of the devil
13.
See what/how/why the devil
More Synonyms of devil
devil in British English
(ˈdɛvəl)
noun
1. theology(often capital)
the chief spirit of evil and enemy of God, often represented as the ruler of hell and often depicted as a human figure with horns, cloven hoofs, and tail
2. theology
one of the subordinate evil spirits of traditional Jewish and Christian belief
3.
a person or animal regarded as cruel, wicked, or ill-natured
4.
a person or animal regarded as unfortunate or wretched
that poor devil was ill for months
5.
a person or animal regarded as clever, daring, mischievous, or energetic
6. informal
something difficult or annoying
7. Christian Science
the opposite of truth; an error, lie, or false belief in sin, sickness, and death
8.
(in Malaysia) a ghost
9.
a portable furnace or brazier, esp one used in road-making or one used by plumbers
Compare salamander (sense 7)
10.
any of various mechanical devices, usually with teeth, such as a machine for making wooden screws or a rag-tearing machine
11. printer's devil
12. law
(in England) a junior barrister who does work for another in order to gain experience, usually for a half fee
13. meteorology
a small whirlwind in arid areas that raises dust or sand in a column
14. between the devil and the deep blue sea
15. devil of
16. give the devil his due
17. go to the devil
18. like the devil
19. play the devil with
20. raise the devil
21. talk of the devil!
22. the devil!
23. the devil's own
24. the devil take the hindmost
25. the devil to pay
26. the very devil
verbWord forms: -vils, -villing, -villedWord forms: US-vils, -viling or -viled
27. (transitive)
to prepare (esp meat, poultry, or fish) by coating with a highly flavoured spiced paste or mixture of condiments before cooking
28. (transitive)
to tear (rags) with a devil
29. (intransitive)
to serve as a printer's devil
30. (intransitive) mainly British
to do hackwork, esp for a lawyer or author; perform arduous tasks, often without pay or recognition of one's services
31. (transitive) US informal
to harass, vex, torment, etc
Word origin
Old English dēofol, from Latin diabolus, from Greek diabolos enemy, accuser, slanderer, from diaballein, literally: to throw across, hence, to slander
devil in American English
(ˈdɛvəl)
noun
1. Theology
a. [oftenD-]
the chief evil spirit, a supernatural being subordinate to, and the foe of, God, and the tempter of human beings; Satan: typically depicted as a man with horns, a tail, and cloven feet
, with the
b.
any evil spirit; demon
2.
a very wicked or malevolent person
3.
a person who is mischievous, energetic, reckless, etc.
4.
an unlucky, unhappy person
that poor devil
5.
anything that is difficult or is hard to operate, control, understand, etc.
6.
printer's devil
7.
any of various machines for tearing things, as paper or rags, to bits
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈdeviled or ˈdevilled, ˈdeviling or ˈdevilling
8.
to prepare (food, often chopped food) with hot seasoning
deviled ham
9.
to tear up (rags, etc.) with a special machine
10. US
to annoy; torment; tease
Idioms:
a devil of a
between the devil and the deep (blue) sea
give the devil his due
go to the devil
play the devil with
raise the devil
the devil!
the devil to pay
Word origin
ME devel < OE deofol < LL(Ec) diabolus < Gr diabolos, slanderous (in LXX, Satan; in N.T., devil) < diaballein, to slander, lit., throw across < dia-, across + ballein, to throw: see ball2; (sense 8) from the notion of heat
More idioms containing
devil
speak of the devil
have a devil of a job
better the devil you know
be between the devil and the deep blue sea
Quotations
If the devil doesn't exist, but man has created him, he has created him in his ownimage and likenessFyodor DostoevskyThe Brothers Karamazov
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!Bible: Isaiah
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devourBible: I Peter
The serpent subtlest beast of all the field, Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen eyes And hairy mane terrificJohn MiltonParadise Lost
The devil's most devilish when respectableElizabeth Barrett BrowningAurora Leigh
An apology for the Devil; It must be remembered that we have only heard one side of the case. God has written all the booksSamuel Butler
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know
The devil looks after his own
He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon
Talk of the devil, and he shall appear
In other languages
devil
British English: Devil /ˈdɛvl/ NOUN
In Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, the Devil is the most powerful evil spirit.
American English: devil
Arabic: شَيْطَان
Brazilian Portuguese: diabo
Chinese: 魔鬼
Croatian: vrag
Czech: ďábel
Danish: djævel
Dutch: duivel
European Spanish: demonio
Finnish: paholainen
French: diable
German: Teufel
Greek: διάβολος
Italian: diavolo
Japanese: 悪魔
Korean: 악마
Norwegian: djevel
Polish: diabeł
European Portuguese: diabo
Romanian: diavol
Russian: дьявол
Latin American Spanish: demonio
Swedish: djävul
Thai: ภูต
Turkish: şeytan
Ukrainian: диявол
Vietnamese: ma quỷ
All related terms of 'devil'
devil dog
a dangerously aggressive dog
devil of
( intensifier )
devil ray
any large ray (fish) of the family Mobulidae, having very wide winglike pectoral fins and feeding on plankton
go-devil
a rotary tool for scraping out obstructions from an oil pipeline
sea devil
→ devilfish
she-devil
a female person or animal regarded as cruel , wicked , or ill-natured
dust devil
a strong miniature whirlwind that whips up dust , litter , leaves, etc into the air
snow devil
a whirling column of snow
the devil!
used in such phrases as what the devil , where the devil, etc
devil worship
the worship of Satan or of a demon
devil's bit
devil's bit scabious
mountain devil
a spiny Australian desert-living lizard , Moloch horridus, that feeds on ants: family Agamidae ( agamas )
printer's devil
an apprentice or errand boy in a printing establishment
Tasmanian devil
a small ferocious carnivorous marsupial , Sarcophilus harrisi, of Tasmania , having black fur with pale markings , strong jaws , and short legs: family Dasyuridae
a devil of a
Devil can be used to emphasize what you think about someone or something. For example , if you say that someone is a devil of a nuisance , you mean that they are very annoying . If you say that something is a devil of a problem , you mean that it is a very difficult problem.
devil-may-care
If you say that someone has a devil-may-care attitude , you mean that they seem relaxed and do not seem worried about the consequences of their actions .
Devil's Island
one of the three Safety Islands , off the coast of French Guiana : formerly a leper colony , then a French penal colony from 1895 until 1938. Area: less than 2 sq km (1 sq mile )
devil's tattoo
a rapid or nervous drumming with the fingers or feet
like the devil
If you say that someone does something like the devil , you are emphasizing that they put a lot of effort into it. If you say that someone drives like the devil , you are emphasizing that they drive very fast .
the very devil
something very difficult or awkward
devil's advocate
If you play devil's advocate in a discussion or debate , you express an opinion which you may not agree with but which is very different to what other people have been saying , in order to make the argument more interesting .
devil's paintbrush
a perennial European hawkweed ( Hieracium aurantiacum ) with leafless flower stalks bearing a cluster of orange-red heads: now a common weed in N U.S. and Canada
go to the devil
to fail or become dissipated
raise the devil
to cause a commotion
the devil's own
a very difficult or problematic (thing)
the devil to pay
problems or trouble to be faced as a consequence of an action
jelutong
a Malaysian apocynaceous tree of the genus Dyera , esp D . costulata
devil's food cake
a rich chocolate cake
hickory horned devil
→ regal moth
speak of the devil
said when someone you have just been talking about arrives unexpectedly
talk of the devil!
used when an absent person who has been the subject of conversation appears
devil's bit scabious
a similar and related Eurasian marsh plant, Succisa pratensis
devil's coach-horse
a large black rove beetle , Ocypus olens, with large jaws and ferocious habits
devil's walking-stick
→ Hercules'-club (sense 1 )
play the devil with
to make much worse ; upset considerably
devil's darning needle
→ dragonfly
give the devil his due
to acknowledge the talent or the success of an opponent or unpleasant person
have a devil of a job
to manage to do something, but only after a lot of difficulty
talk/speak of the devil
People say speak of the devil , or in British English talk of the devil , if someone they have just been talking about appears unexpectedly.
what/how/why the devil
When you want to emphasize how annoyed or surprised you are, you can use an expression such as what the devil , how the devil, or why the devil .
Cartesian diver
a glass vessel partially filled with water and covered with an airtight membrane , containing a hollow object that is open at the bottom and contains just enough air to allow it to float . Pressing on the membrane compresses the air in the vessel and forces water into the object, causing it to sink ; releasing the membrane causes it to rise
better the devil you know
If you say better the devil you know or better the devil you know than the devil you don't know , you mean that you would prefer to have contact with or do business with a person you already know, even though you don't like them, than with a person you don't know.
the devil take the hindmost
You can say the devil take the hindmost to describe or comment on a situation you disapprove of because people do only what is best for themselves without thinking about other people.
sell your soul to the devil
If you say that someone has sold their soul to the devil , you mean that you disapprove of them because they have done something that you think is not right in order to get what they want .
devilfish
any manta
manta
any large ray (fish) of the family Mobulidae, having very wide winglike pectoral fins and feeding on plankton
manta ray
any large ray (fish) of the family Mobulidae, having very wide winglike pectoral fins and feeding on plankton
what the heck (or hell, devil, etc.)
an exclamatory remark of surprise
have the devil's own job/a devil of a job
If you say that you had the devil's own job to do something or that you had a devil of a job doing something, you are emphasizing that it was difficult to do it.
be between the devil and the deep blue sea
to be in a difficult situation where the two possible courses of action or choices that you can take are equally bad
Chinese translation of 'devil'
devil
(ˈdɛvl)
n
(c) (= evil spirit) 魔鬼 (móguǐ) (个(個), gè)
(c)
poor/lucky devil可怜(憐)/幸运(運)的家(傢)伙 (kělián/xìngyùn de jiāhuo) (个(個), gè)
the Devil撒旦 (Sādàn) (个(個), gè)
go on, be a devil! (inf) 来(來)，怕什么(麼)！ (lái, pà shénme!)
talk of the devil!说(說)到某人，某人就到！ (shuō dào mǒurén, mǒurén jiù dào!)
what/how/why the devil ... ? (inf, used for emphasis) 究竟什么(麼)/如何/为(為)什么(麼) ... ？ (jiūjìng shénme/rúhé/wèishénme ... ?)
All related terms of 'devil'
the Devil
撒旦 Sādàn [ 个(個) gè ]
poor/lucky devil
可怜(憐)/幸运(運)的家(傢)伙 kělián/xìngyùn de jiāhuo [ 个(個) gè ]
go on, be a devil!
( inf ) 来(來)，怕什么(麼)！ lái, pà shénme!
talk of the devil!
说(說)到某人，某人就到！ shuō dào mǒurén, mǒurén jiù dào!
what/how/why the devil ... ?
( inf : used for emphasis ) 究竟什么(麼)/如何/为(為)什么(麼) ... ？ jiūjìng shénme/rúhé/wèishénme ... ?
1 (noun)
Definition
any evil spirit
the image of devils with horns and cloven hoofs
Synonyms
evil spirit
demon
They believed he was possessed by evil demons.
fiend
She is a fiend incarnate, leading these people to eternal damnation.
ghoul
hellhound
atua (New Zealand)
wairua (New Zealand)
2 (noun)
Definition
a person regarded as wicked
the savage devils who mugged me
Synonyms
brute
an unpleasant brute
monster
You make me sound like an absolute monster!
savage
The kids in the orchestra are a right bunch of savages!
beast
He is an absolute beast in terms of his will to win.
villain
rogue
He wasn't a rogue at all.
barbarian
Our maths teacher was a bully and a complete barbarian.
fiend
a saint to his parents and a fiend to his children
terror
my dreams were haunted with terrors last night
swine
ogre
I have been painted as this ogre with no regard for others.
3 (noun)
Definition
a person
I feel sorry for the poor devil who has to work with you.
Synonyms
person
Sam's the only person who can do the job.
individual
the rights and responsibilities of the individual
soul
a tiny village of only 100 souls
creature
He is one of the most amiable creatures in existence.
thing
human being
not to hear a fellow human being's voice
beggar
4 (noun)
You cheeky little devil!
Synonyms
scamp
Have some respect for me, you scamp!
monkey (informal)
She's such a little monkey.
rogue
a loveable rogue
imp
I didn't say that, you little imp!
rascal
What's that old rascal been telling you?
tyke (informal)
scoundrel
He is a lying scoundrel.
scallywag (informal)
mischief-maker
whippersnapper
toerag (slang)
pickle (British, informal)
nointer (Australian, slang)
5 (noun)
My father is a devil for punctuality.
Synonyms
enthusiast
He is a great sports enthusiast.
demon
He is a demon for discipline.
fiend (informal)
a strong-tea fiend
go-getter (informal)
phrase
See the Devil
Quotations
If the devil doesn't exist, but man has created him, he has created him in his own image and likeness [Fyodor Dostoevsky – The Brothers Karamazov]How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [Bible: Isaiah]Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour [Bible: I Peter]The serpent subtlest beast of all the field, Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen eyes And hairy mane terrific [John Milton – Paradise Lost]The devil's most devilish when respectable [Elizabeth Barrett Browning – Aurora Leigh]An apology for the Devil; It must be remembered that we have only heard one side of the case. God has written all the books [Samuel Butler]
proverbs
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't knowThe devil looks after his ownHe who sups with the devil should have a long spoonTalk of the devil, and he shall appear
Additional synonyms
in the sense of barbarian
Our maths teacher was a bully and a complete barbarian.
Synonyms
savage,
monster,
beast,
brute,
yahoo,
swine,
ogre,
sadist
in the sense of beast
Definition
a brutal or uncivilized person
He is an absolute beast in terms of his will to win.
Synonyms
brute,
monster,
savage,
barbarian,
fiend,
swine,
ogre,
ghoul,
sadist
in the sense of creature
Definition
a person
He is one of the most amiable creatures in existence.