devil

noun

1》 (usu. the Devil) (in Christian and Jewish belief) the supreme spirit of evil; Satan.

    ↘an evil spirit; a demon.

2》 a very wicked or cruel person.

    ↘a mischievously clever or self-willed person.

3》 (the devil) fighting spirit; wildness: he was born with the devil in him.

4》 (the devil) a thing that is very difficult or awkward to do or deal with.

5》 informal a person with specified characteristics: you lucky devil.

6》 (the devil) expressing surprise or annoyance in various questions or exclamations.

7》 an instrument or machine used for tearing or other destructive work.

8》 informal, dated a junior assistant of a barrister or other professional. See also printer's devil.

verb (devils, devilling, devilled; US devils, deviling, deviled)

1》 informal, dated act as a junior assistant for a barrister or other professional.

2》 N. Amer. harass or worry.

Phrases

be a devil! Brit. informal said when encouraging someone to do something that they are hesitating to do.

between the devil and the deep blue sea caught in a dilemma.

devil-may-care cheerful and reckless.

the devil's dozen thirteen.

the devil's in the detail the details of a matter are its most problematic aspect.

the devil to pay serious trouble to be dealt with.

like the devil with great speed or energy.

play the devil with have a damaging or disruptive effect on.

speak (or talk) of the devil said when a person appears just after being mentioned. [from the superstition that the devil will appear if his name is spoken.]

Origin

OE dēofol, via late L. from Gk diabolos 'accuser, slanderer' (used in the Septuagint to translate Heb. śāṭān 'Satan'), from diaballein 'to slander'.