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   devil

   /ˈdɛvl/

   noun

   • 1. (in Christian and Jewish belief) the supreme spirit of evil; Satan: "belief in the Devil"
   • ▪ an evil spirit; a demon: "casting out devils" Similar evil spiritdemonfiendimpbogieghostspectreinformal:spookarchaic:bugbearrare:cacodemon
   • ▪ a very wicked or cruel person: "they prefer voting for devils than for decent men" Similar brutebeastmonstersavagedemonfiendvillainsadistbarbarianterrorogreinformal:pigradgederogatory:bastarddogdirty dogderogatory, informal:swinevulgar slang:shit
   • ▪ fighting spirit; wildness: "he was dangerous when the devil was in him"
   • ▪ a thing that is very difficult or awkward to do or deal with: "it's going to be the very devil to disentangle"
   • 2. a person with specified characteristics: informal "the cunning old devil" Similar wretchunfortunatecreaturesoulpersonfellowinformal:thingbeggarbastardvulgar slang:sodbugger
   • 3. expressing surprise or annoyance in various questions or exclamations: "‘Where the devil is he?’"
   • 4. an instrument or machine fitted with sharp teeth or spikes, used for tearing or other destructive work.
   • 5. a junior assistant of a barrister or other professional. informal, dated

   verb

   • 1. act as a junior assistant for a barrister or other professional: informal, dated "there is the possibility of devilling for fellow members of the Bar"
   • 2. harass or worry (someone): North American "he was deviled by a new-found fear"

   Word Origin Old Englishdēofol (related to Dutch duivel and German Teufel), via late Latin from Greek diabolos ‘accuser, slanderer’ (used in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew śāṭān ‘Satan’), from diaballein ‘to slander’, from dia ‘across’ + ballein ‘to throw’.

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

   • V

     4

   • I

     1

   • L

     1

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