Diabolos

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term referring to a slanderous or accuser figure often associated with evil and temptation
2. Describing an entity characterized by malevolence and deceit, commonly linked to adversarial roles in religious contexts
3. Denoting a being that embodies trickery and malicious intent, frequently seen as an antagonist in theological narratives

Etymology: The word in front of you is the plural of "diabolo," the spinning toy with two cups joined by a string. The surprise is that its name is a French fancy rather than a Greek or Latin one. French "diable" means "devil," and the toy's name is a playful alteration of that noun, shaped after the Italian "diavolo" and its shared source, the Latin "diabolus." The toy arrived in the early 20th century, so its name is much younger than the ancient words behind it. Those ancient words descend from Greek "diábolos," meaning "devil," which came from the verb "diabállō," meaning "to slander." Literally, that verb means "to throw across," a sense that has tempted some writers to link the spinning toy's name to the act of throwing it. There is no evidence for that connection, so the resemblance is just coincidence.

Synonyms: devil, satan, demon, fiend

Antonyms: angel, saint, divine being