devil

[ dev-uh l ]
/ ˈdɛv əl /

noun

verb (used with object), dev·iled, dev·il·ing or (especially British) dev·illed, dev·il·ling.

Idioms for devil

Origin of devil

before 900; Middle English devel, Old English dēofol < Late Latin diabolus < Greek diábolos Satan (Septuagint, NT), literally, slanderer (noun), slanderous (adj.), verbid of diabállein to assault someone's character, literally, to throw across, equivalent to dia- dia- + bállein to throw

OTHER WORDS FROM devil

out·dev·il, verb (used with object), out·dev·iled, out·dev·il·ing or (especially British) out·dev·illed, out·dev·il·ling. sub·dev·il, noun un·der·dev·il, noun

British Dictionary definitions for give the devil his due

devil
/ (ˈdɛvəl) /

noun

verb -ils, -illing or -illed or US -ils, -iling or -iled

Word Origin for devil

Old English dēofol, from Latin diabolus, from Greek diabolos enemy, accuser, slanderer, from diaballein, literally: to throw across, hence, to slander

Cultural definitions for give the devil his due (1 of 2)

Give the devil his due

Admit it when there is some good even in a person you dislike. This saying appears in Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes.

Cultural definitions for give the devil his due (2 of 2)

devil

A bad or fallen angel. (See Satan.)

Idioms and Phrases with give the devil his due (1 of 2)

give the devil his due

Give credit to what is good in a disagreeable or disliked person. For example, I don't like John's views on education, but give the devil his due, he always has something important to say, or I don't like what the new management has done, but give the devil his due, sales have improved. [Late 1500s]

Idioms and Phrases with give the devil his due (2 of 2)

devil