devil in Christian and Jewish belief, the supreme spirit of evil, Satan. The Devil is traditionally represented with horns, cloven hooves, and a forked tail, all signs of his demonic origin. The name is recorded from Old English (in form dēofol) and comes ultimately via late Latin from Greek diabolos ‘accuser, slanderer’ (used in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew śāṭān ‘Satan’), from diaballein ‘to slander’.
the Devil can quote scripture for his own ends it is possible for someone engaged in wrongdoing to quote selectively from the Bible in apparent support of their position. The saying, recorded from the late 16th century, alludes to the temptation of Christ by the Devil (Matthew ch. 4), and to the Devil's citation of Psalm 91:11, ‘he shall give his angels charge over thee,’ in his challenge to Jesus to throw himself from a pinnacle of the Temple to show that God would not allow him to be hurt.
the Devil finds work for idle hands to do someone who has no work to do will get into mischief. The saying is recorded from the early 18th century, but idleness and mischief are linked in a letter of St Jerome (c. ad 342–420), ‘fac et aliquid operis, ut semper te diabolus inveniat occupatum [do something, so that the devil may always find you busy].’
the Devil is in the details the most difficult part of planning and achieving something is the detailed specification rather than the overall concept. The saying is recorded from the late 20th century; the comment ‘God is in the details’ is attributed to the German-born architect and designer Mies van der Rohe (1886–1969).
the Devil is not so black as he is painted someone may not be as bad as their reputation. The saying is recorded from the mid 16th century, but a 15th-century French saying runs, ‘a man is not always as devilish as he is black.’
the Devil looks after his own often used to comment on the good fortune of someone undeserving. Recorded from the early 18th century, but an early 17th-century source, Day's Isle of Gulls (1607), has ‘You were worse than the devil else, for they say he helps his servants.’
the Devil makes his Christmas pies of lawyers' tongues and clerks' fingers proverbial saying, late 16th century, in which the lawyers' tongues and clerks' fingers stand for the words and actions of the legal profession as welcomed by the Devil.
devil's advocate a person appointed by the Roman Catholic Church to challenge a proposed beatification or canonization, or the verification of a miracle.
devil's bones dice, a name recorded from the mid 17th century.
the Devil's children have the Devil's luck proverbial saying, late 17th century, comparable to the Devil looks after his own.
devil's dozen thirteen.
Devil's Island a rocky island off the coast of French Guiana, used from 1852 as a penal settlement, especially for political prisoners. The last prisoner was released in 1953.
devil's picture books playing cards; a name recorded from the late 18th century.
Devil take the hindmost a shortened version of every man for himself, and the Devil take the hindmost, recorded from the early 17th century.
the Devil was sick, the Devil a saint would be; the Devil was well, the devil a saint was he! promises made in adversity may not be kept in prosperity. The saying is recorded in English from the early 17th century, but is the variant of a medieval Latin proverb.
what is got over the Devil's back is spent under his belly what is gained improperly will be spent on folly and debauchery. The saying is recorded from the late 16th century.
why should the Devil have all the best tunes attributed to the English evangelist Rowland Hill (1744–1833), and referring to the fact that many hymns were sung to popular secular tunes. The saying is recorded from the mid 19th century.

dev·il / ˈdevəl/ • n. 1. (usu. the Devil) (in Christian and Jewish belief) the chief evil spirit; Satan. ∎  an evil spirit; a demon. ∎  a very wicked or cruel person: they prefer voting for devils than for decent men. ∎  a mischievously clever or self-willed person: the cunning old devil is up to something. ∎  inf. a person with specified characteristics: the poor devil | a lucky devil. ∎  (the devil) fighting spirit; wildness: he was dangerous when the devil was in him. ∎  (the devil) a thing that is very difficult or awkward to do or deal with: it's going to be the very devil to disentangle. 2. (the devil) expressing surprise or annoyance in various questions or exclamations: “Where the devil is he?” 3. an instrument or machine, esp. one fitted with sharp teeth or spikes, used for tearing or other destructive work. 4. inf., dated a junior assistant of a lawyer or other professional. See also printer's devil. • v. (dev·iled, dev·il·ing; Brit. dev·illed , dev·il·ling ) 1. [intr.] inf., dated act as a junior assistant for a lawyer or other professional. 2. [tr.] harass or worry (someone): he was deviled by a new-found fear. PHRASES: between the devil and the deep (blue) sea caught in a dilemma. devil a —— archaic not even one or any: the devil a man of you stirred himself over it. devil-may-care cheerful and reckless: lighthearted, devil-may-care young pilots. a devil of a —— inf. used to emphasize great size or degree: we are in a devil of a mess here. the devil is in the details the details of a matter are its most problematic aspect. the devil to pay serious trouble to be dealt with: there was the devil to pay when we got home. the devil's own —— inf. used to emphasize the difficulty or seriousness of something: he was in the devil's own hurry. go to the devil 1. said in angry rejection or condemnation of someone. 2. fall into moral depravity: he must go to the devil in his own way. like the devil with great speed or energy: he drove like the devil. play the devil with have a damaging or disruptive effect on: this brandy plays the devil with one's emotions! speak (or talk) of the devil said when a person appears just after being mentioned. ORIGIN: Old English dēofol (related to Dutch duivel and German Teufel), via late Latin from Greek diabolos ‘accuser, slanderer’ (used in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew śạ̄tān ‘Satan’), from diaballein ‘to slander,’ from dia ‘across’ + ballein ‘to throw.’

176. Devil (See also Demon.)

1. Adramalech leader of fallen angels. [Br. Lit.: Paradise Lost ]
2. adversary traditional appellation of Satan [O.T.: Job 1:6; N.T.: I Peter 5:8]
3. Amaimon king of eastern portion of hell. [Medieval Legend: Brewer Dictionary, 28]
4. Apollyon Biblical name for Satan. [N.T.: Revelation 9:11]
5. Applegate, Mr. devil to whom aging Joe Boyd sells his soul to become a youthful champion outfielder. [Am. Lit.: Wallop The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant; Damn Yankees ]
6. Auld Ane literally, ‘old one’; nickname for demon. [Scot. Folklore: Walsh Modern, 35]
7. Auld Hornie Scottish appellation for the devil. [Scot. Folklore: Leach, 353]
8. Azazel Satan’s standard bearer. [Br. Lit.: Paradise Lost ]
9. Beelzebub prince of demons. [N.T.: Matthew 12:24]
10. Belial chief of fiends. [O.T.: I Samuel 2:12]
11. Cathleen sells her soul to the devil in exchange for the souls of starving Irish peasants. [Irish Drama: Yeats Countess Cathleen in Benét, 228]
12. Clootie Scottish appellation for the devil. [Scot. Folklore: Leach, 353]
13. Darkness, Prince of “The Prince of Darkness,” alias the Devil. [Br. Lit.: All’s Well That Ends Well ]
14. the Deuce New England appellation for the devil. [Am. Folklore: Leach, 353]
15. Devils, Prince of the biblical equivalent for Satan. [N.T.: Matthew 9:34]
16. divis devils shown as cat-headed men with horns and hooves. [Pers. Myth.: Barber & Riches]
17. Eblis devil and father of devils, called Azazel before his fall. [Islam: Brewer Dictionary 319]
18. Faust (Dr. Faustus ) sells his soul to the devil in order to comprehend all experience. [Ger. Lit.: Goethe Faust ; Br. Drama: Marlowe Doctor Faustus ]
19. Iblis (Eblis ) Moslem prince of darkness; chief evil spirit. [Islam: Leach, 513]
20. Lucifer a Biblical name for Satan. [O.T.: Isaiah 14:12]
21. Master Leonard grand-master of sabbats and orgies. [Medieval Demonology: Brewer Handbook, 684]
22. Mephistopheles fiend to whom Faust sells his soul. [Ger. Lit.: Faust ]
23. Mysterious Stranger, The devil appears as a pleasant stranger, convinces a boy of the falseness of morals and the nonexistence of God. [Am. Lit.: Twain The Mysterious Stranger in Benét, 697]
24. Nickie-Ben a Scottish name for Satan. [Scot. Folklore: Wheeler, 258]
25. Old Nick Satan himself. [Western Folklore: Brewer Dictionary, 755]
26. Old Scratch Satan. [Eng. Usage: Brewer Dictionary, 973; Am. Lit.: “The Devil and Daniel Webster”]
27. Peter, Meister German euphemism alluding to the devil. [Ger. Folklore: Leach, 353]
28. Satan the devil himself, source of all evil. [O.T.: Job 1–2]

Devotion (See FAITHFULNESS .)

devil. In theological terminology the chief of the fallen angels. In the narrative of the Fall (Gen. 3) the serpent which seduces Eve has traditionally been considered an embodiment of the devil, and in the Book of Job Satan acts as a tempter and tormentor, though always in submission to the will of God. In the pseudepigraphical Jewish literature there is a much more developed demonology with traces of pagan influence. In the NT the devil tempts the Lord at the beginning of His public ministry (see TEMPTATION OF CHRIST), and Christ shows his powerlessness over those who resist him. Satan also wanted the disciples, especially St Peter (Lk. 22: 31–2). At the Last Judgement he and those who belong to him will depart into eternal fire (Mt. 25: 41). An account of the angels' fall is given in Rev. 12: 7–9.

Most of the Fathers held that the fall of the angels was caused by their envy of men, though others attributed it to pride. In the Middle Ages there was much speculation on the subject. The Dominicans held that the initial sin of the devil, committed immediately after his creation, consisted in pride, manifested in a desire for a natural beatitude obtained by his own powers. The Franciscans taught that the devils committed various sins before becoming obstinate in evil, that Lucifer, their chief, desired equality with God, and that his sin consisted in inordinate love of his own excellence. Since the 16th cent. the traditional teaching has been accepted by most Christians, but there has been a reaction against speculative elaboration.

117. Devil

See also 114. DEMONS ; 146. EVIL ; 183. GOD and GODS ; 203. HELL ; 349. RELIGION ; 367. SIN ; 392. THEOLOGY .

adiabolist

a person who denies the existence of the devil.

diabolism

1. belief in or worship of the devil.

2. Theology. an action aided or prompted by the devil; sorcery; witchcraft. —diabolist , n.

diabology, diabolology

1. the study of the devil.

2. devil lore.

Izedism

the beliefs of the Izedis, a Mesopotamian sect said to worship the devil. Also Yezdism, Yezidism . —Izedi, Yezdi, Yezidi, n.

monodiabolism

belief in the existence of only one devil. Cf. polydiabolism .

Pan-Satanism

a Gnostic doctrine that the material world expresses the personality of Satan.

polydiabolism

the belief that many devils exist. Cf. monodiabolism .

Satanism

1. the worship of Satan or evil powers.

2. a parody of Christian ceremonies in which the devil is worshiped. —Satanist , n.

Satanophany

the appearance of Satan on earth.

Yezdism, Yezidism

Izedism.

Devil. In Jewish scripture, the figure of Satan is that of an adversary (1 Kings 11. 14), allowed by God to engage in his probing work (Job 1–2, Zecheriah 3. 1 f., 1 Chronicles 21.1; cf. 2 Samuel 24. 1). In later Judaism, although Jewish folklore includes stories about Ashmedai, the king of demons and Lilith his queen, the figure of the devil is not significant.

In both Christianity and Islam, the devil and Satan are at times identified, and yet also appear as separate figures.

The devil is named in the Qurʾān Iblīs, perhaps from Gk., diabolos, though Muslims derive the name from Arab., balasa, ‘he despaired’ (sc. of the mercy of God). But he is also al-Shaitān, Satan, and ‘the enemy of God’.

Although Iblīs and (al-)Shaitān are identified, Shaitan also has a distinct existence, perhaps as the leader of the jinn.

See also DEMON for near-equivalent figures in other religions.

devil, the caulker's name for the seam in the upper deck planking next to a ship's waterways. No doubt they gave it that name as there was very little space to get at this seam to caulk it with a caulking iron, making it a particularly difficult and awkward job. This is the origin of the saying ‘between the devil and the deep blue sea’, since there is only the thickness of the ship's hull planking between this seam and the sea.

Devil was also the name given by caulkers to the garboard seam, which was always, when a ship was careened, not only the most awkward to get at but usually the wettest and most difficult to keep above water and caulk. Hence the old seafaring term ‘devil to pay’, meaning something very difficult or awkward, as it was always difficult to pay this particular seam.

devil. The well-known creature from Jewish and Christian theology is sometimes aligned with characters in Celtic narrative; e.g. Caoránach, the ‘monster’ of Lough Derg, may be known as the mother of the devil. Aspects of Donn (1), ruler of the dead, were used in portrayals of the devil in pious Irish folklore. The earwig, a small centipede, is thought to be a disguise for the devil in Irish folklore. Speakers in Irish folklore conventionally refer to the devil as The Adversary, An tÁibhirseoir. In most other instances the Celtic languages employ cognates borrowed from Latin, English, and French, e.g. Ir. diabhal; ScG diabhal; Manx jouyl; W diafol, diawl, cythraul; Corn. dyawl; Bret. diaoul.

devil the supreme spirit of evil; malignant being OE.; printer's apprentice XVII; (highly seasoned) fried or boiled dish XVIII. OE. dēofol = OS. diubul, -al (Du. duivel), OHG. tiufal (G. teufel), ON. djǫfull, Goth. diab(a)ulus. The Goth. forms were directly — Gr. diábolos prop. accuser, slanderer, f. diabállein slander, traduce, f. diá across + bállein throw. The other Gmc. forms were — ChrL. diabolus (whence also (O)F. diable, etc.).
Hence devil vb. †play the devil XVI; grill, broil (with hot condiments) XVIII; act as devil to a lawyer or writer XIX. devilish XV; see -ISH 1. devilry XIV; after (O)F. diablerie.

devil The word diabolos is used in the LXX to translate Hebrew Satan, and ‘devil’ is an English alternative used in the NT (e.g. in the temptation narrative, Matt. 4: 1) as an equivalent of ‘Satan’. The belief that Satan was once an angel expelled from heaven (Rev. 12: 9) is assumed by Jesus (Luke 10: 18). But Jesus has the power to control Satan and expel the demons who are his underlings and who can take up residence in human bodies (Mark 3: 23–7).

devil Evil spirit considered in many religions to be the arch-enemy of the Supreme being. In Christianity, the Devil is the chief of the fallen angels cast out of heaven for their sins. The devil was named as Satan, Beelzebub or the Prince of Darkness. The biblical account of Christ's temptation in the desert leads to the perception of the Devil as the tempter of souls. In Islam, Iblis is the name of the devil figure, the supreme tempter.

devil see Satan ; demon ; exorcism .

devil. See Māra.

devil •Ethel • lethal • brothel • betrothal •Cavell, cavil, gavel, gravel, ravel, travel •Havel, larval, marvel, Marvell, rondavel •bedevil, bevel, devil, dishevel, kevel, level, revel, split-level •daredevil • she-devil • eye level •naval, navel •coeval, evil, Khedival, medieval, primeval, retrieval, shrieval, upheaval •civil, drivel, shrivel, snivel, swivel •carnival • Percival • perspectival •festival • aestival (US estival) •adjectival, arrival, deprival, genitival, imperatival, infinitival, outrival, relatival, revival, rival, substantival, survival •archival •grovel, hovel, novel •oval •approval, removal •Lovell, shovel •interval • serval • narwhal •coequal, equal, prequel, sequel •bilingual, lingual, monolingual, multilingual •rorqual • Hywel •Daniel, spaniel