Middle English Dictionary Entry

dẹ̄vel, devel n.
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Entry Info

Forms dẹ̄vel, devel n. Also defle, deveil, devl(e, deol, dewel, dewle, (with metath.) delve & deofel, deofle, deovel, deovle, dofle, dovel, dovle, dufel, del, dule (early & W) & diefle, dievel, dievle, divel (K, S & SM) & deivel, deile, dwil (N). Pl. dev(e)les, deov(e)les, deuvles, devls, dovles, defles, deofles, deles, delvels(!) & dev(e)len, deov(e)len, dievlen, divelin, dov(e)len, deflen, deoflen & devel(e, dovle, diefle; (early gen. pl.) deovlene, deovele, deofle.
Etymology OE dēofol & dīow(u)l; pl. dēofol, dēoflu & dīo(w)las; gen. pl. dēofla & dīola; ult. Gr.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
Satan, the Devil; -- often without the in early ME.
Show 33 Quotations
1b.
develes, gen. sg., in phrases: (a) ~ child, ~ fode, ~ lime, ~ sone, a limb of Satan, Devil's offspring, sinner; (b) ~ ape; ~ bidel, Devil's beadle; ~ chapelein; ~ drivel, Devil's henchman; ~ gost, evil spirit; ~ norice, wicked nurse; ~ theow, Devil's servant; ~ wolf, wicked wolf; (c) ~ costninge, ~ fondinge, Devil's temptation; ~ craft, sorcery, magic; ~ lore, Devil's teachings, evil; ~ onde, Devil's enmity; ~ pouer, ~ an)wald, Devil's power or domination; ~ snare; ~ werk, evil or sinful behavior; (d) ~ beli, Devil's bellows; ~ forneis, Devil's forge; ~ mul, worldly rubbish; (e) ~ hond; ~ toute, anus; (f) ~ mouth, ~ throte, the pit of hell; ~ temple, Devil's church, a tavern; (g) ~ pater noster, Devil's prayer, grumbling; (h) ~ bitte, Devil's bite (Leontodon autumnalis) [see Agnus Castus 202/27].
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2.
A malignant spirit, demon, devil; ~ of helle; haven a ~, to be possessed by an evil spirit, be insane.
Show 34 Quotations
3.
A false or heathen god; also, an idol; develes lac, idolatry.
Show 9 Quotations
4.
(a) A malignant or wicked person, a fiend; ~ incarnat; (b) a monster; a specter, goblin.
Show 14 Quotations
5.
Cpds. ~ clepere, one who calls up the Devil, sorcerer; ~ cuppe, fig. gluttony, drunkenness; ~ dragoun, fiendish dragon; ~ hand, the Devil's possession; ~ membre, limb of the Devil, Devil's offspring; ~ pai, the Devil's pleasure; ~ seoc [OE], possessed by the devil, lunatic; ~ seocnesse, lunacy; ~ shine [OE], a devil; devilish works.
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6.
In oaths, exclamations, etc.: (a) the ~ him fecche (have, honge, spede, etc.); bitechen the ~, to consign (sth.) to the Devil; go to the ~!; (b) al) a ~ wei, a (in) twenti ~ wei, in alre ~ wei, etc., to the Devil or devils, to hell; -- usually as expletives; (c) the ~, hou ~, what (the) ~; fi on the ~; in the develes name (date); etc.
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7.
Sayings, etc.: fighten (driven) as the ~; gon to the devil; dronken as the devil; the ~ to paien, to please the Devil.
Show 7 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1200 Wor.Serm.in EGSt.7 (Wor Q.29)69 : Heo al man cun to helle venden et heore liues ende and þer mit deofelen vuneden.
    • Note: New spelling: early dative plural. deofelen.
    Note: Check to be certain that some of the plural forms in -en in the form section are not dative plurals. For example: sense 2., a1225 Lamb.Hom.Creed which has "mid douelen". There may be others, as the list of variant spellings (and grammatical deisgnations, where appropriate) in the form sections may not be complete in the earlier volumes of the MED.--per MLL

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