Satans

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A figure representing the embodiment of evil or opposition to good in various religious texts and traditions; Often conceptualized as a rebellious being who defies divine authority; Symbolically associated with temptation, sin, and moral corruption in literature and theology
2. A character in religious narratives embodying the spirit of rebellion against God, often depicted as a tempter; Frequently illustrated in cultural works as a source of malevolence and wicked influence; Represents a personification of adversarial forces in human moral dilemmas
3. An entity in spiritual belief systems symbolizing ultimate evil, often challenging divine order; Portrays the archetype of malevolence and wrongdoing across different cultures and mythologies; Represents the internal struggle between good and evil within human consciousness

Etymology: "Satans" is simply the plural of "satan," so its history is that of the singular. The name traces back to Hebrew "satan," meaning "adversary" or "accuser," a plain description of someone who opposes another in a dispute. The Greek "Satan" and the Latin "Satan" carried that same sense into their languages, and the word reached English through Latin, where it kept its capital letter as a proper name for the chief adversary of God. The plural form is what gives the word its more general life. When English speakers write "satans," they are usually treating the name as a common noun, turning one supreme figure into a category of many evil beings or into a loose way of describing wicked people. That shift from a single named adversary to a class of adversaries is the main change the word has undergone since its Hebrew beginnings, where "satan" was an ordinary word for an opponent or accuser before it became a title.

Synonyms: devils, demons, fiends, evil spirits, beelzebubs

Antonyms: angels, saints, cherubs, archangels, seraphs