Word
devil
Meanings
An evil spirit or supernatural being, especially one believed to tempt or harm people.
A person who is very cruel, malicious, or (informally) extremely naughty.
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A small tool used in cooking to hold food in place, especially for carving meat (a carving fork).
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Definition
A devil is an evil spirit, often shown as a powerful being that tempts or harms people.
A devil is a supernatural being associated with evil in many religions, stories, and traditions. It is often imagined as tempting people to do wrong or causing harm. In everyday English, it can also mean a person who behaves in a cruel, spiteful, or very naughty way, usually in an informal or exaggerated sense.
Examples
- In the novel, the devil appears at the crossroads and offers the hero a tempting bargain.
- She insisted the devil was just a symbol for human greed rather than a real creature.
- My cousin was a little devil at the wedding reception, racing between tables and knocking over napkins.
- They joked that their cat was a devil for opening cupboards and stealing snacks at night.
Common mistake
Learners often write "the devil" when they mean a specific bad person; use "a devil" for a general description and "the Devil" for the religious figure.
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