deofol
Old English
Alternative forms
- dēoful, dīoful, diofol
Etymology
From Latin diabolus, from Ancient Greek διάβολος (diábolos). Cognate with Old Frisian diōvel, Old Saxon diuval, Old High German tiufal, Old Norse djǫfull, and Gothic 𐌳𐌹𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌿𐌻𐌿𐍃 (diabaulus).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈdeːo̯vol/
Noun
dēofol n
- the Devil, Satan
- a devil, demon, evil spirit
- 10th century, Ælfric, "Sexigesima Sunday"
- Dēofol sind fuglas ġeċīeġede for þām þe hīe flēogaþ ġeond þās lyft unġesewenlīċe, swā swā fuglas dōþ ġesewenlīċe.
- Demons are called birds because they fly through the air invisibly, just as birds do visibly.
- 10th century, Ælfric, "Sexigesima Sunday"
Declension
Declension of deofol (strong a-stem)
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | dēofol | dēofol |
| accusative | dēofol | dēofol |
| genitive | dēofles | dēofla |
| dative | dēofle | dēoflum |
Usage notes
- The nominative plural can also be dēoflu.
- This word can sometimes be masculine in the singular, though it is almost always neuter in the plural.
- In the sense "THE Devil", i.e. Satan, it can be used either with or without a definite article.
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