Note: The translation for this entry is currently under quality review. Some content is temporarily displayed in English only.
devil
The term carries a heavy duality between cosmic malevolence and playful chaos. When used in a religious sense, it evokes a feeling of absolute dread, temptation, and moral corruption, representing the ultimate adversary of the divine. In a social context, the word shifts toward affection or mild frustration. Calling a child a devil suggests a spirited, energetic nature rather than true evil, turning a word of terror into a description of spirited mischief.
Countable when referring to a mischievous person or the specific religious entity. Uncountable when used in certain idiomatic phrases describing an abstract quality of evil.
💬Conversación Casual
Leo's driving me nuts today. Kid is a total devil.
Rough. Just lean into it and ghost him until dinner.
Meanings
The supreme spirit of evil in some religions, often identified as Satan.
"In many folk tales, the protagonist is tricked into making a deal with the devil."
A person who behaves badly or is mischievous, particularly a child.
"That little boy is a complete devil when his parents aren't looking."
To torment or harass someone persistently.
"He was devilled by guilt for the rest of his life."