devilish
adjective
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In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, Satan is usually referred to as diabolos or “slanderer” (from the Greek verb diaballein, “to slander,” literally “to throw across”). But in the Greek New Testament, the Hebrew word, which is Satanas or Satan in its Greek form, is used as if it were the devil’s proper name. The older Latin translations of the Bible retain Greek diabolos as diabolus, but St. Jerome’s version, the Vulgate, calls the devil Satan. Both words were borrowed into Old English, and we now call this figure both Satan and the Devil. The derived form devilish first appears in the 15th century.
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Examples of devilish in a Sentence
Mark Peikert, IndieWire, 29 Oct. 2024
These holy men are senior clergy members appointed by the pope to the Sacred College of Cardinals, but their ambitions can bring out their devilish instincts.
—Eric Andersson, People.com, 26 Oct. 2024
In the quaint village of Edmonton, a mysterious figure with devilish charm appears offering to fulfill the deepest desires of its inhabitants.
—Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 25 Oct. 2024
With a dazzling set of wings strapped on, Carla Bruni made for a devilish angel for her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway debut on Tuesday in New York.
—Violet Goldstone, WWD, 16 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Devilish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/devilish. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
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devilish
adjective
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