Diabolically

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.

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  • diabolically — diabolical ► ADJECTIVE 1) (also diabolic) of or like the Devil, especially in being evil or cruel. 2) informal very bad: a diabolical voice. DERIVATIVES diabolically adverb. ORIGIN from Greek diabolos accuser, slanderer (see DEVIL(Cf. ↑ …   English terms dictionary

  • diabolically — adverb as a devil; in an evil manner his writing could be diabolically satiric • Syn: ↑devilishly, ↑fiendishly • Derived from adjective: ↑fiendish (for: ↑fiendishly), ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Diabolically Yours — Directed by Julien Duvivier Produced by Raymond Borderie Eugène Lépicier …   Wikipedia

  • diabolically — adverb see diabolical …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • diabolically — See diabolical. * * * …   Universalium

  • diabolically — adverb In a diabolical manner. See Also: diabolic, diabolical, diabolicalness …   Wiktionary

  • diabolically — adv. devilishly, evilly …   English contemporary dictionary

  • diabolically — di·a·bol·i·cal·ly …   English syllables

  • diabolically — See: diabolical …   English dictionary

  • diabolic — diabolically, adv. diabolicalness, n. /duy euh bol ik/, adj. 1. having the qualities of a devil; devilish; fiendish; outrageously wicked: a diabolic plot. 2. pertaining to or actuated by a devil. Also, diabolical. [1350 1400; ME diabolik ( < MF)… …   Universalium

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