Where does “diabolical” come from?
Diabolical derives from Middle French diabolique, from Late Latin diabolicus, from Ancient Greek διαβολικός, an adjective formed from διάβολος meaning slanderer or accuser, itself from διαβάλλω meaning to slander or deceive, with διά as a prefix.
diabolical (English): Extremely wicked or cruel; Of or concerning the...
Definitions
- Extremely wicked or cruel; Of or concerning the...
Ancestry of “diabolical”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | diabolic | Showing wickedness typical of a devil; Extremely... |
| 2 | Middle English | diabolik | — |
| 3 | Middle French | diabolique | diabolic |
| 4 | Late Latin | diabolicus | diabolic; relating to the Devil |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | διαβολικός | devilish |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | Διάβολος | — |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | διαβάλλω | throw over or across; set at variance, make a... |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | δῐᾰ- | apart; through, across; through; in different... |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | διά | throughout |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | dwís | twice, doubly; in two |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | dwóh₁ | two |
Words derived from “diabolical”