Where does “archfiend” come from?
archfiend (English) comes from English fiend, from Middle English fēnd, from Old English fēond, from Proto-Germanic *fijand, from Proto-Germanic fijandz, from Proto-Germanic fijāną, from Proto-Indo-European peh₁- — to hate, hurt.
archfiend (English): A chief fiend; Satan; A diabolically evil person
Definitions
- A chief fiend; Satan; A diabolically evil person
Ancestry of “archfiend”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | fiend | A devil or demon; a malignant or diabolical... |
| 2 | Middle English | fēnd | An enemy, foe or fiend |
| 3 | Old English | fēond | enemy; adversary, foe, enemy, fiend, devil,... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *fijand | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | fijandz | enemy, fiend |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | fijāną | to hate; to dislike |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₁- | to hate, hurt |