Devil

1dev;il pronunciation: function: noun etymology: middle english devel, from old english dēofol, from late latin diabolus, from greek diabolos, literally, slanderer, from diaballein to throw across, slander, from dia- + ballein to throw; probably akin to sanskrit gurate he lifts update: before 12th century 1 often capitalized : the personal supreme spirit of evil often represented in jewish and christian belief as the tempter of humankind, the leader of all apostate angels, and the ruler of hell —usually used with the —often used as an interjection, an intensive, or a generalized term of abuse lt;what the devil is this?gt; lt;the devil you say!gt;2 : an evil spirit : demon3 a : an extremely wicked person : fiend b archaic : a great evil4 : a person of notable energy, recklessness, and dashing spirit; also : one who is mischievous lt;those kids are little devils todaygt;5 : fellow —usually used in the phrases poor devil, lucky devil6 a : something very trying or provoking lt;having a devil of a time with this problemgt; b : severe criticism or rebuke : hell —used with the lt;i'll probably catch the devil for thisgt; c : the difficult, deceptive, or problematic part of something lt;the devil is in the detailsgt;7 : dust devil8 christian science : the opposite of truth : a belief in sin, sickness, and death : evil, error— between the devil and the deep blue sea : faced with two equally objectionable alternatives— devil to pay : severe consequences —used with the lt;there'll be the devil to pay if we're lategt;