diabolicaladj.n.

Brit.

/ˌdʌɪəˈbɒlᵻkl/, U.S.

/ˌdaɪəˈbɑlək(ə)l/

Forms: 1500s dyabolycal, 1500s dyabolycall, 1500s–1600s diabolicall, 1500s–1600s diabollicall, 1500s–1600s dyabolical, 1500s– diabolical, 1600s diabollical; also Scottish pre-1700 deabollicall, pre-1700 debollicall.

Origin: A borrowing from Latin, combined with an English element. Etymons: Latin diabolicus , -al suffix¹.

Etymology: < post-classical Latin diabolicus diabolic adj. + -al suffix¹. Compare Spanish †diabolical (late 14th cent.). Compare earlier diabolic adj.

A. adj.

1. Of, belonging to, or involving the Devil or a devil; (supposedly) caused or inspired by the Devil or a devil.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the supernatural > deity > a devil > the Devil or Satan > [adjective] > resembling or diabolic

devilish?1473

diabolicc1475

devil-like1488

diabolical1502

satanical1548

devilified1647

satanic1791

Beelzebubian1867

1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) iv. xxx. sig. mmi The spyryte dyabolycall them suggerneth in y^e mater of vsuryes.

?1504 S. Hawes Example of Vertu sig. bb.iv^v Be neuer taken in dyabolycall engyne.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cxiiij^v [They] adiudged thesame Jone [of Arc], a..sorceresse, and a diabolical blasphemeresse of God.

1603 in tr. J. Teixeira Contin. Adventures Dom Sebastian 52 He began to suspect the same apparition to be diabolicall, or meere fantasticall.

1651 T. Hobbes Philos. Rudim. xii. 175 The most ancient of all diabolicall tentations,..Yee shall be as Gods, knowing good and evill.

1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan iv. xlvi. 370 Hee was commonly thought a Magician, and his Art Diabolicall.

1720 W. Cowan Preservative against Princ. & Pract. of Dissenters 55 He is in a fair way to be led by a diabolical Spirit, more than a good one.

1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature II. 152 If a God, intelligent and beneficent, governs Nature, diabolical spirits direct and confound, at least the affairs of the children of men.

1816 W. Scott Black Dwarf v, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. I. 110 If his magic diabolical should fail him,..I would have him trust to his magic natural.

1862 H. Spencer First Princ. i. i. §6. 21 That Religion is divine and Science diabolical, is a proposition..implied in many a clerical declamation.

1913 W. S. Walsh Handy Bk. Curious Information 797 So marvellous was his art that many refused to believe he could attain it without diabolical assistance.

1975 Church Hist. 44 529 Blasphemy, apostasy, demonolatry and diabolical orgies were allegedly routine.

2004 J. Berkhout tr. M. F. M. van den Berk Magic Flute i. 16 He is the superior assistant of the deceased souls, who protects them against the diabolical forces in the underworld.

a. Reminiscent or characteristic of a devil in nature or behaviour; appropriate to a devil; devilish, fiendish; evil, wicked.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > diabolicalness > [adjective]

devillyOE

fiendenc1315

serpentinec1422

devilish?a1439

diabolic?1483

feding1502

diabolical1546

satanic1556

demoniacal1565

serpent-likea1586

serpentive1635

devilized1641

fiendlike1716

diabolish1865

society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adjective] > devilishly wicked

devillyOE

fiendenc1315

serpentinec1422

devilish?a1439

diabolic?1483

diabolical1546

satanical1548

satanic1556

serpent-likea1586

fiendlikea1616

serpentive1635

devilized1641

demoniacal1714

demoniac1784

diabolish1865

1546 T. Langley tr. P. Vergil Abridgem. Notable Worke vii. vii. f. cxlv Of all these supersticiouse sectes afore rehersed there is not one so diabolicall, as the secte of Mahometanes.

1664 H. More Modest Enq. Myst. Iniquity iv. 10 This Mystery..that is so horrid, and Diabolical, and so Antipodal to both the Person and Spirit of Christ.

1709 Tatler No. 68 This Malevolence does not proceed from a real Dislike of Virtue, but a diabolical Prejudice against it.

1789 G. Morris Diary 19 July in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) I. 321 To collect the various papers found in the Bastile, and then..to write the annals of that diabolical castle.

1882 B. M. Croker Proper Pride I. vii. 134 Such diabolical vengeance, uprooting my home and estranging my wife.

1884 A. R. Pennington Wiclif vi. 193 Their so-called poverty is nothing else but a diabolical lie.

1919 M. R. Rinehart Dangerous Days x. 92 She had, with a sort of diabolical cleverness, succeeded in losing herself.

1963 T. Szulc Winds of Revol. iv. 132 The diabolical pleasure of a cat poised before a mouse hole.

2014 Herald Sun (Melbourne) (Nexis) 27 Oct. 10 A County Court judge once described his criminal past as diabolical.

b. Resembling or characteristic of a devil in appearance.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > lack of beauty > [adjective] > of disreputable appearance

diabolical1752

scarecrow1761

villainous-looking1777

diabolic1789

scarecrowy1862

scarecrowish1892

1752 S. Foote Taste i. 5 Daubing diabolical Angels for Alehouses.

1791 J. Ireland Hogarth Illustr. I. 100 He was..remarkable for a diabolical squint, and a Satanic smile.

1817 W. Scott Rob Roy I. xii. 281 I shall never forget the diabolical sneer which writhed Rashleigh's wayward features.

1839 W. Chambers Tour Holland 34/1 An old fantastical-looking dwelling..literally covered with diabolical figures.

1859 L. A. Wilmer Our Press Gang 194 He does not, like many another journalist, hide his diabolical horns in an old woman's night-cap, or his cloven hoof in a fashionable gaiter.

1906 Tales Jan. 93/2 The steeple of Saintes-Maries took on the form of a furious giant, and its windows, lit up by the westering sun, gleamed like diabolical eyes.

1996 Observer (Nexis) 18 Aug. 2 Two Church of England bishops have now issued a solemn reprimand to the Tory chairman..for his latest poster showing Tony Blair with diabolical red eyes and a fiendish grin.

3. colloquial (chiefly British).

a. Awful, disgraceful, atrocious.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > heinousness > [adjective]

awlyc1200

grievousa1300

grilla1300

uglya1300

strongc1300

outrageousa1325

heinousc1374

excessive1393

curseda1400

fella1400

misshapenc1400

rankc1400

monstruousc1425

enorm1481

prodigiousc1487

villainous1489

nefand1490

sceleratea1513

monstrous1531

funestal1538

enormious1545

facinorous1548

flagitious1550

dire1567

bonable1575

felonious1575

bomination1589

unvenial?1589

heathenish1592

enormous1593

villainous1598

nameless1611

pitchy1612

funest1636

funestous1641

scarleta1643

nefandous1649

aversable1663

atrocious1669

frightful1700

flagrant1706

atrocea1734

diabolical1750

unspeakable1831

the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > very great or extreme > specifically of something bad or reprobated

woefula1400

mortalc1425

preciousc1475

fine1559

trim1569

gay1581

unconscionable1590

pocky1601

abominable1612

fearful1634

handsome1638

plaguey1694

dreadful1700

awfy1724

murrain1728

diabolical1750

deuced1782

dire1836

sinful1863

sodding1881

blooming1882

flaming1895

ruddy1896

abysmal1904

awful1916

hellishing1927

right1958

steaming1962

schwag1993

1750 Lady Luxborough Let. 25 Apr. in Lett. to W. Shenstone (1775) 199 Diabolical weather, added to all this, lowered my spirits yet more.

1796 W. Scott Let. 26 Sept. in Scott on Himself (1981) 50 The day being diabolical I had it not in my power to shew them the beauties of this place.

1869 R. M. Ford Lord Austin's Bride xxvii. 368 The end shall come. I will not hasten it. Poor Margaret! It's diabolical.

1887 H. W. Preston Year in Eden iv. xxv. 377 Did you ever know such diabolical weather?

1982 S. Townsend Secret Diary Adrian Mole 94 Asked our postman about communications between Tunisia and England. He said they were ‘diabolical’.

2010 Advertiser (Adelaide) (Nexis) 18 Sept. 7 Anyone on a scooter is at the mercy of the traffic which, from what I witnessed, is diabolical.

b. As an intensifier: outright, utter. Frequently in diabolical liberty. Cf. devilish adj. 4a.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > utter or absolute

shirea1225

purec1300

properc1380

plainc1395

cleana1400

fine?a1400

entirec1400

veryc1400

starka1425

utterc1430

utterlyc1440

merec1443

absolute1531

outright1532

cleara1535

bloodyc1540

unproachable1544

flat1553

downright1577

sheer1583

right-down?1586

single1590

peremptory1601

perfecta1616

downa1625

implicit1625

every way1628

blank1637

out-and-outa1642

errant1644

inaccessional1651

thorough-paced1651

even down1654

dead1660

double-dyed1667

through stitch1681

through-stitched1682

total1702

thoroughgoing1719

thorough-sped1730

regular1740

plumb1748

hollow1751

unextenuated1765

unmitigated1783

stick, stock, stone dead1796

positive1802

rank1809

heart-whole1823

skire1825

solid1830

fair1835

teetotal1840

bodacious1845

raw1856

literal1857

resounding1873

roaring1884

all out1893

fucking1893

pink1896

twenty-four carat1900

grand slam1915

stone1928

diabolical1933

fricking1937

righteous1940

fecking1952

raving1954

1933 Daily Mail (Hull) 14 Oct. 8/1 Marshall..described the offence as a diabolical liberty on the part of the police officers.

1958 B. Behan Borstal Boy iii. 231 Why ain't I given a chance to follow my trade in 'ere, eh?..It's a diabolical liberty. Geezers get no chance to follow their trade.

1980 Irish Times 21 Apr. 7/4 This is diabolical nonsense. It is scraping the bottom of the barrel.

2014 S. May Wake up Happy Every Day xl. 282 Not saying please or thank you is an absolute diabolical liberty.

B. n.

A person (supposedly) influenced by the Devil; a practitioner of or enthusiast for rituals involving the Devil or devils; a wicked person. rare.Quot. c1547 could alternatively be interpreted as showing the sense ‘a diabolical inclination; a propensity to do evil’.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > degree or type of mental illness > [noun] > possession > person

demoniacc1405

diabolicalc1547

phantic1605

possessed1657

demonomaniac1831

diaboleptic1879

theoleptic1881

c1547 H. Latimer Let. in J. Foxe Actes & Monuments (1563) 1351/2 As your naturals, and diabolicals would have you to do.

1813 C. Cuthbertson Adelaide V. 43 Her diabolical lady..called a council of diabolicals equal to herself.

1829 R. Southey Sir Thomas More I. 127 That devilish [doctrine] concerning infants, which so many divines (more fitly they might be called diabolicals!) have repeated after St. Augustine.

1855 J. Brougham Basket of Chips xxii. 401 We'd been readin' some of them 'ere hawful books about the City and its diabolicals, and warn't altogether sartain that we hadn't got into a tight corner hunawares.

1989 W. Weaver tr. U. Eco Foucault's Pendulum lxiii. 364 Only your Diabolicals think that the Madonna about to have the Child is a reference to the alchemist's oven.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	diabolical
释义	diabolicaladj.n. Brit. /ˌdʌɪəˈbɒlᵻkl/, U.S. /ˌdaɪəˈbɑlək(ə)l/ Forms: 1500s dyabolycal, 1500s dyabolycall, 1500s–1600s diabolicall, 1500s–1600s diabollicall, 1500s–1600s dyabolical, 1500s– diabolical, 1600s diabollical; also Scottish pre-1700 deabollicall, pre-1700 debollicall. Origin: A borrowing from Latin, combined with an English element. Etymons: Latin diabolicus , -al suffix¹. Etymology: < post-classical Latin diabolicus diabolic adj. + -al suffix¹. Compare Spanish †diabolical (late 14th cent.). Compare earlier diabolic adj. A. adj. 1. Of, belonging to, or involving the Devil or a devil; (supposedly) caused or inspired by the Devil or a devil. ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > deity > a devil > the Devil or Satan > [adjective] > resembling or diabolic devilish?1473 diabolicc1475 devil-like1488 diabolical1502 satanical1548 devilified1647 satanic1791 Beelzebubian1867 1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) iv. xxx. sig. mmi The spyryte dyabolycall them suggerneth in y^e mater of vsuryes. ?1504 S. Hawes Example of Vertu sig. bb.iv^v Be neuer taken in dyabolycall engyne. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cxiiij^v [They] adiudged thesame Jone [of Arc], a..sorceresse, and a diabolical blasphemeresse of God. 1603 in tr. J. Teixeira Contin. Adventures Dom Sebastian 52 He began to suspect the same apparition to be diabolicall, or meere fantasticall. 1651 T. Hobbes Philos. Rudim. xii. 175 The most ancient of all diabolicall tentations,..Yee shall be as Gods, knowing good and evill. 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan iv. xlvi. 370 Hee was commonly thought a Magician, and his Art Diabolicall. 1720 W. Cowan Preservative against Princ. & Pract. of Dissenters 55 He is in a fair way to be led by a diabolical Spirit, more than a good one. 1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature II. 152 If a God, intelligent and beneficent, governs Nature, diabolical spirits direct and confound, at least the affairs of the children of men. 1816 W. Scott Black Dwarf v, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. I. 110 If his magic diabolical should fail him,..I would have him trust to his magic natural. 1862 H. Spencer First Princ. i. i. §6. 21 That Religion is divine and Science diabolical, is a proposition..implied in many a clerical declamation. 1913 W. S. Walsh Handy Bk. Curious Information 797 So marvellous was his art that many refused to believe he could attain it without diabolical assistance. 1975 Church Hist. 44 529 Blasphemy, apostasy, demonolatry and diabolical orgies were allegedly routine. 2004 J. Berkhout tr. M. F. M. van den Berk Magic Flute i. 16 He is the superior assistant of the deceased souls, who protects them against the diabolical forces in the underworld. 2. a. Reminiscent or characteristic of a devil in nature or behaviour; appropriate to a devil; devilish, fiendish; evil, wicked. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > diabolicalness > [adjective] devillyOE fiendenc1315 serpentinec1422 devilish?a1439 diabolic?1483 feding1502 diabolical1546 satanic1556 demoniacal1565 serpent-likea1586 serpentive1635 devilized1641 fiendlike1716 diabolish1865 society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adjective] > devilishly wicked devillyOE fiendenc1315 serpentinec1422 devilish?a1439 diabolic?1483 diabolical1546 satanical1548 satanic1556 serpent-likea1586 fiendlikea1616 serpentive1635 devilized1641 demoniacal1714 demoniac1784 diabolish1865 1546 T. Langley tr. P. Vergil Abridgem. Notable Worke vii. vii. f. cxlv Of all these supersticiouse sectes afore rehersed there is not one so diabolicall, as the secte of Mahometanes. 1664 H. More Modest Enq. Myst. Iniquity iv. 10 This Mystery..that is so horrid, and Diabolical, and so Antipodal to both the Person and Spirit of Christ. 1709 Tatler No. 68 This Malevolence does not proceed from a real Dislike of Virtue, but a diabolical Prejudice against it. 1789 G. Morris Diary 19 July in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) I. 321 To collect the various papers found in the Bastile, and then..to write the annals of that diabolical castle. 1882 B. M. Croker Proper Pride I. vii. 134 Such diabolical vengeance, uprooting my home and estranging my wife. 1884 A. R. Pennington Wiclif vi. 193 Their so-called poverty is nothing else but a diabolical lie. 1919 M. R. Rinehart Dangerous Days x. 92 She had, with a sort of diabolical cleverness, succeeded in losing herself. 1963 T. Szulc Winds of Revol. iv. 132 The diabolical pleasure of a cat poised before a mouse hole. 2014 Herald Sun (Melbourne) (Nexis) 27 Oct. 10 A County Court judge once described his criminal past as diabolical. b. Resembling or characteristic of a devil in appearance. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > lack of beauty > [adjective] > of disreputable appearance diabolical1752 scarecrow1761 villainous-looking1777 diabolic1789 scarecrowy1862 scarecrowish1892 1752 S. Foote Taste i. 5 Daubing diabolical Angels for Alehouses. 1791 J. Ireland Hogarth Illustr. I. 100 He was..remarkable for a diabolical squint, and a Satanic smile. 1817 W. Scott Rob Roy I. xii. 281 I shall never forget the diabolical sneer which writhed Rashleigh's wayward features. 1839 W. Chambers Tour Holland 34/1 An old fantastical-looking dwelling..literally covered with diabolical figures. 1859 L. A. Wilmer Our Press Gang 194 He does not, like many another journalist, hide his diabolical horns in an old woman's night-cap, or his cloven hoof in a fashionable gaiter. 1906 Tales Jan. 93/2 The steeple of Saintes-Maries took on the form of a furious giant, and its windows, lit up by the westering sun, gleamed like diabolical eyes. 1996 Observer (Nexis) 18 Aug. 2 Two Church of England bishops have now issued a solemn reprimand to the Tory chairman..for his latest poster showing Tony Blair with diabolical red eyes and a fiendish grin. 3. colloquial (chiefly British). a. Awful, disgraceful, atrocious. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > heinousness > [adjective] awlyc1200 grievousa1300 grilla1300 uglya1300 strongc1300 outrageousa1325 heinousc1374 excessive1393 curseda1400 fella1400 misshapenc1400 rankc1400 monstruousc1425 enorm1481 prodigiousc1487 villainous1489 nefand1490 sceleratea1513 monstrous1531 funestal1538 enormious1545 facinorous1548 flagitious1550 dire1567 bonable1575 felonious1575 bomination1589 unvenial?1589 heathenish1592 enormous1593 villainous1598 nameless1611 pitchy1612 funest1636 funestous1641 scarleta1643 nefandous1649 aversable1663 atrocious1669 frightful1700 flagrant1706 atrocea1734 diabolical1750 unspeakable1831 the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > very great or extreme > specifically of something bad or reprobated woefula1400 mortalc1425 preciousc1475 fine1559 trim1569 gay1581 unconscionable1590 pocky1601 abominable1612 fearful1634 handsome1638 plaguey1694 dreadful1700 awfy1724 murrain1728 diabolical1750 deuced1782 dire1836 sinful1863 sodding1881 blooming1882 flaming1895 ruddy1896 abysmal1904 awful1916 hellishing1927 right1958 steaming1962 schwag1993 1750 Lady Luxborough Let. 25 Apr. in Lett. to W. Shenstone (1775) 199 Diabolical weather, added to all this, lowered my spirits yet more. 1796 W. Scott Let. 26 Sept. in Scott on Himself (1981) 50 The day being diabolical I had it not in my power to shew them the beauties of this place. 1869 R. M. Ford Lord Austin's Bride xxvii. 368 The end shall come. I will not hasten it. Poor Margaret! It's diabolical. 1887 H. W. Preston Year in Eden iv. xxv. 377 Did you ever know such diabolical weather? 1982 S. Townsend Secret Diary Adrian Mole 94 Asked our postman about communications between Tunisia and England. He said they were ‘diabolical’. 2010 Advertiser (Adelaide) (Nexis) 18 Sept. 7 Anyone on a scooter is at the mercy of the traffic which, from what I witnessed, is diabolical. b. As an intensifier: outright, utter. Frequently in diabolical liberty. Cf. devilish adj. 4a. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > utter or absolute shirea1225 purec1300 properc1380 plainc1395 cleana1400 fine?a1400 entirec1400 veryc1400 starka1425 utterc1430 utterlyc1440 merec1443 absolute1531 outright1532 cleara1535 bloodyc1540 unproachable1544 flat1553 downright1577 sheer1583 right-down?1586 single1590 peremptory1601 perfecta1616 downa1625 implicit1625 every way1628 blank1637 out-and-outa1642 errant1644 inaccessional1651 thorough-paced1651 even down1654 dead1660 double-dyed1667 through stitch1681 through-stitched1682 total1702 thoroughgoing1719 thorough-sped1730 regular1740 plumb1748 hollow1751 unextenuated1765 unmitigated1783 stick, stock, stone dead1796 positive1802 rank1809 heart-whole1823 skire1825 solid1830 fair1835 teetotal1840 bodacious1845 raw1856 literal1857 resounding1873 roaring1884 all out1893 fucking1893 pink1896 twenty-four carat1900 grand slam1915 stone1928 diabolical1933 fricking1937 righteous1940 fecking1952 raving1954 1933 Daily Mail (Hull) 14 Oct. 8/1 Marshall..described the offence as a diabolical liberty on the part of the police officers. 1958 B. Behan Borstal Boy iii. 231 Why ain't I given a chance to follow my trade in 'ere, eh?..It's a diabolical liberty. Geezers get no chance to follow their trade. 1980 Irish Times 21 Apr. 7/4 This is diabolical nonsense. It is scraping the bottom of the barrel. 2014 S. May Wake up Happy Every Day xl. 282 Not saying please or thank you is an absolute diabolical liberty. B. n. A person (supposedly) influenced by the Devil; a practitioner of or enthusiast for rituals involving the Devil or devils; a wicked person. rare.Quot. c1547 could alternatively be interpreted as showing the sense ‘a diabolical inclination; a propensity to do evil’. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > degree or type of mental illness > [noun] > possession > person demoniacc1405 diabolicalc1547 phantic1605 possessed1657 demonomaniac1831 diaboleptic1879 theoleptic1881 c1547 H. Latimer Let. in J. Foxe Actes & Monuments (1563) 1351/2 As your naturals, and diabolicals would have you to do. 1813 C. Cuthbertson Adelaide V. 43 Her diabolical lady..called a council of diabolicals equal to herself. 1829 R. Southey Sir Thomas More I. 127 That devilish [doctrine] concerning infants, which so many divines (more fitly they might be called diabolicals!) have repeated after St. Augustine. 1855 J. Brougham Basket of Chips xxii. 401 We'd been readin' some of them 'ere hawful books about the City and its diabolicals, and warn't altogether sartain that we hadn't got into a tight corner hunawares. 1989 W. Weaver tr. U. Eco Foucault's Pendulum lxiii. 364 Only your Diabolicals think that the Madonna about to have the Child is a reference to the alchemist's oven. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.n.1502
随便看	do one's easter do one's endeavour(s do one's face do one's fair share do one's filthhead do one's fine do one's force do one's homework do one's honour to do one's kind do one's labour do one's main do one's manners do one's merchandise do one's might do one's nana do one's nature do one's needs do one's nicety do one's number do one's nut do one's occasionally the nut do one's outmost do one's own thing do one's penance