Devilish
/ˈdɛv.əl.ɪʃ/noun
Resembling or characteristic of a devil; wicked or mischievous.
Did you know?Devilish comes from devil, a word that entered English through Old English and ultimately traces back to Greek diabolos, meaning “slanderer” or “accuser,” a title for the one who tears things apart with words.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰewbʰ-
“to do harm, deceive, or mislead”
Ancient Greek
Greek
diábolos
“slanderer, accuser; later a name for the Devil”
Late Latin
Latin
diabolus
“the Devil”
Old English
OE
deofol
“devil, evil spirit”
Middle English
English
develish
“devilish; like a devil”
Modern English
English
devilish
“wicked, mischievous, or devil-like”