GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Found 2 definitions
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Devil , n. [AS. deófol, deóful; akin to G. teufel, Goth. diabaúlus; all fr. L. diabolus the devil, Gr. διάβολος the devil, the slanderer, fr. διαβάλλω to slander, calumniate, orig., to throw across; διά across + βάλλω to throw, let fall, fall; cf. Skr. gal to fall. Cf. Diabolic.]
- The Evil One; Satan, represented as the tempter and spiritual of mankind.1913 Webster
[Jesus] being forty days tempted of the devil.
Luke iv. 2.1913 WebsterThat old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.
Rev. xii. 9.1913 Webster - An evil spirit; a demon.1913 Webster
A dumb man possessed with a devil.
Matt. ix. 32.1913 Webster - A very wicked person; hence, any great evil. “That devil Glendower.” “The devil drunkenness.” Shak.1913 Webster
Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
John vi. 70.1913 Webster - An expletive of surprise, vexation, or emphasis, or, ironically, of negation. [Low]1913 Webster
The devil a puritan that he is, . . . but a timepleaser.
Shak.1913 WebsterThe things, we know, are neither rich nor rare,
But wonder how the devil they got there.Pope.1913 Webster - (Cookery) A dish, as a bone with the meat, broiled and excessively peppered; a grill with Cayenne pepper.1913 Webster
Men and women busy in baking, broiling, roasting oysters, and preparing devils on the gridiron.
Sir W. Scott.1913 Webster - (Manuf.) A machine for tearing or cutting rags, cotton, etc.1913 Webster
Blue devils. See under Blue. -- Cartesian devil. See under Cartesian. -- Devil bird (Zool.), one of two or more South African drongo shrikes (Edolius retifer, and Edolius remifer), believed by the natives to be connected with sorcery. -- Devil may care, reckless, defiant of authority; -- used adjectively. Longfellow. -- Devil's apron (Bot.), the large kelp (Laminaria saccharina, and Laminaria longicruris) of the Atlantic ocean, having a blackish, leathery expansion, shaped somewhat like an apron. -- Devil's coachhorse. (Zool.) (a) The black rove beetle (Ocypus olens). [Eng.] (b) A large, predacious, hemipterous insect (Prionotus cristatus); the wheel bug. [U.S.] -- Devil's darning-needle. (Zool.) See under Darn, v. t. -- Devil's fingers, Devil's hand (Zool.), the common British starfish (Asterias rubens); -- also applied to a sponge with stout branches. [Prov. Eng., Irish & Scot.] -- Devil's riding-horse (Zool.), the American mantis (Mantis Carolina). -- The Devil's tattoo, a drumming with the fingers or feet. “Jack played the Devil's tattoo on the door with his boot heels.” F. Hardman (Blackw. Mag.). -- Devil worship, worship of the power of evil; -- still practiced by barbarians who believe that the good and evil forces of nature are of equal power. -- Printer's devil, the youngest apprentice in a printing office, who runs on errands, does dirty work (as washing the ink rollers and sweeping), etc. “Without fearing the printer's devil or the sheriff's officer.” Macaulay. -- Tasmanian devil (Zool.), a very savage carnivorous marsupial of Tasmania (Dasyurus ursinus syn. Diabolus ursinus). -- To play devil with, to molest extremely; to ruin. [Low]
1913 Webster
- The Evil One; Satan, represented as the tempter and spiritual of mankind.
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Tasmanian , a. Of or pertaining to Tasmania, or Van Diemen's Land. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Tasmania; specifically (Ethnol.), in the plural, the race of men that formerly inhabited Tasmania, but is now extinct.1913 Webster
Tasmanian cider tree. (Bot.) See the Note under Eucalyptus. -- Tasmanian devil. (Zool.) See under Devil. -- Tasmanian wolf (Zool.), a savage carnivorous marsupial; -- called also zebra wolf. See Zebra wolf, under Wolf.
1913 Webster