Deovel

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An archaic spelling of devil, referring to an evil supernatural being or the chief spirit of wickedness
2. Old variant form of the word devil, meaning a malevolent spirit or demon that opposes God and tempts humans
3. A medieval spelling of devil, used for an evil spirit, demon, or the personification of sin and wickedness

Etymology: Old English "deofol" (or "deofl") is the source of modern "devil," and it came into the language long before the Norman Conquer. It was borrowed very early from Latin "diabolus," which itself came from Greek "diabolos," meaning "slanderer" or "accuser," built from "dia-" (across) and "ballein" (to throw). The Greek word was used of anyone who threw false accusations across the path of another person, and it was adopted into the Christian vocabulary of the Church as a name for the chief adversary of God. The Old English form shows the sound changes a Latin-speaking missionary's word underwent in the mouths of Anglo-Saxon speakers. The initial "d" stayed, but the Latin "-bolus" ending was worn down, and the Old English variants "deofol," "deoful," and "deovol" all circulated, reflecting the variable spelling of the period. Other Germanic languages show the same pattern, for example Old Saxon "diubal."

Synonyms: devil, demon, fiend