Definition of: devil

(dev′əl) noun
1. Sometimes cap. In Jewish and Christian theology, the prince and ruler of the kingdom of evil; Satan.
2. Any subordinate evil spirit; a demon.
3. In Christian Science usage, Evil; a lie; error; neither corporeality nor mind; opposite of Truth; a belief in sin, sickness, and death; animal magnetism or hypnotism.
4. A wicked or malignant person.
5. A wretched fellow: poor devil.
6. A person of great energy, daring, or effrontery.
7. A machine for any of various purposes, as for cutting or tearing up rags.
8. A printer's apprentice or errand boy: also printer's devil.
9. An expletive used profanely or humorously: with the.
10. In English law, a junior barrister who prepares a case for a senior, receiving little or no pay.
—between the devil and the deep blue sea Between equally bad alternatives; in a dilemma.
—the devil to pay Trouble to be expected as a consequence.
—to give the devil his due To acknowledge the ability or success of even a bad or disliked person, antagonist, etc.
—v.t. dev·iled or ·illed, dev·il·ing or ·il·ling
1. To prepare for eating by seasoning highly and sometimes broiling or frying.
2. To make fiendish.
3. To cut up, as cloth, in a devil.
4. To annoy or harass excessively; tease. [OE dēofol <LL diabolus <Gk. diabolos a slanderer; later, the devil <diaballein slander <dia- across + ballein throw]