- Diabolically
- Diabolic Di`a*bol"ic, Diabolical Di`a*bol"ic*al, a. [L.
diabolicus, Gr. ? devilish, slanderous: cf. F. diabolique.
See {Devil}.]
1. Pertaining to the devil; resembling, or appropriate, or
appropriate to, the devil; befitting hell or satan;
devilish; infernal; impious; as, a diabolic or diabolical
temper or act; the diabolical expression on his face;
fires lit up a diabolic scene. ``Diabolic power.''
--Milton. ``The diabolical institution.'' --Motley.
Syn: devilish, mephistophelian, mephistophelean. [1913 Webster]
2. showing a wicked cunning or ingenuity; as, the cold calculation and diabolic art of some statesmen.
Syn: devilish, mephistophelian, mephistophelean. [WordNet 1.5]
3. extremely evil or cruel; atrocious; outrageously wicked; as, diabolical sorcerers under the influence of devils; diabolical torturers taking pleasure in their craft.
Syn: demonic, fiendish, hellish, infernal, nefarious, satanic. [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5] -- {Di`a*bol"ic*al*ly}, adv. -- {Di`a*bol"ic*al*ness}, n.
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.