Diabolic
/ˌdaɪ.əˈbɒl.ɪk/noun
Relating to the devil or to evil, wicked, or extremely bad behavior.
Did you know?Diabolic ultimately comes from Greek *diabolos*, the same root behind *devil*, and it originally meant a “slanderer” or “accuser” before becoming a name for demonic evil.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
διάβολος (diábolos)
“A slanderer, accuser, or one who throws accusations across”
Late Greek
Greek
διαβολικός (diabolikós)
“Slanderous, devilish, or belonging to the accuser”
Late Latin
Latin
diabolicus
“Devilish, fiendish, or of the devil”
Old French
Old French
diabolique
“Devilish, demonic, wicked”
Middle English
English
diabolik / diabolic
“Devilish, pertaining to the devil or extreme evil”
Modern English
English
diabolic
“Extremely evil, fiendish, or devilish”