diabolical
/ˌdaɪ.əˈbɒ.lɪ.kəl/
adjective
Origin
Middle English
diabol — devil
Overview
Meaning Now
- Of or relating to the devil; devilish.
- Extremely wicked or evil.
- Demonic.
Language path
Middle English → Old French → Latin → Ancient Greek
Earliest form
diabolical
Earliest period
Middle English
Journey
The term 'diabolical' has evolved from religious texts and literature describing the devil and his influence on human affairs.
Evolution
- Middle English
diabolical
“relating to the devil”
- Early Modern English
diabolical
“extremely wicked”
- Modern English
diabolical
“extremely wicked or evil”
Connections
Word parts
diabol
root
devil
-ical
suffix
relating to
Related across languages
French
diabolique
diabolical
Spanish
diabólico
diabolical
Italian
diabolico
diabolical
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Related to diabolical
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.