Factsheet
What does the word devilish mean?
There are seven meanings listed in OED's entry for the word devilish. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
How common is the word devilish?
About 0.7occurrences per million words in modern written English
See frequency
How is the word devilish pronounced?
British English
/ˈdɛvl̩ɪʃ/
DEV-uhl-ish
/ˈdɛv(ᵻ)lɪʃ/
DEV-uh-lish
U.S. English
/ˈdɛvl̩ɪʃ/
DEV-uhl-ish
/ˈdɛv(ə)lɪʃ/
DEV-uh-lish
See pronunciation
Where does the word devilish come from?
Earliest known use
Middle English
The earliest known use of the word devilish is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for devilish is from before 1439, in the writing of John Lydgate, poet and prior of Hatfield Regis.
devilish is formed within English, by derivation.
Etymons: devil n., ‑ish suffix1.
See etymology
Nearby entries
- devil fish, n.1666–
- devil float, n.1939–
- devil grass, n.1870–
- devilhead, n.c1300–1870
- devilhood, n.1621–
- devil horn, n.1854–
- devilified, adj.1647–
- devilifier, n.1793
- devilify, v.1645–
- deviling, n.1579–
- devilish, adj. & adv.?a1439–
- devilished, adj.1583–
- 1660–
- devilishly, adv.1528–
- devilishness, n.1526–
- devilism, n.1647–
- devility, n.1588–
- devilize, v.1647–
- devilized, adj.1641–
- devilkin, n.1656–
- devilled | deviled, adj.a1557–
Browse more nearby entries
Etymology
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Meaning & use
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Pronunciation
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