| Word | diabolical |
|---|---|
| Date | October 19, 2009 |
| Type | adjective |
| Syllables | dye-uh-BAH-lih-kul |
| Etymology | Like the word "devil," "diabolical" traces back to Latin "diabolus," which itself descends from Greek "diabolos," a word that literally means "slanderer." In English, "diabolical" has many nuances of meaning. It can describe the devil himself (as in "my diabolical visitor") or anything related to or characteristic of him in appearance, behavior, or thought; examples include "diabolical lore," "a diabolical grin," and "a diabolical plot." In British slang, "diabolical" can also mean "disgraceful" or "bad," as in "the food was diabolical." |
| Examples | The movie’s antagonist is a fairly standard supervillain, complete with the requisite incompetent minions and a diabolical scheme to destroy the world. |
| Definition | : of, relating to, or characteristic of the devil : devilish |
Tags: wordoftheday::adjective
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: Verb ancient state banish exile english ostracize group
Previous card: Swimming natant words contexts who've time local easily
Up to card list: Word of the Day