How do you use the word "devil" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "devil": The director cast me as the devil. Speak of the devil, here comes Kathy.

Devil Meaning

/ˈdɛvəl/

Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nameThe chief devil; Satan.

nounAn evil creature, the objectification of a hostile and destructive force.

Sentence Examples

The director cast me as the devil.

Speak of the devil, here comes Kathy.

Talk of devil, and he's presently at your elbow.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

rag demon annoy

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

The old painting depicted a red ____ with horns and a long tail.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The director cast me as the ____.

Word Origin & History

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwísder. Ancient Greek διά (diá) Ancient Greek δια- (dia-) Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der. Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō) Ancient Greek διαβάλλω (diabállō) Ancient Greek διάβολος (diábolos)bor. Latin diabolusbor. Proto-West Germanic *diubul Old English dēofol Middle English devel English devil From Middle English devil, devel, deovel, from Old English dēofol, from Proto-West Germanic *diubul, from Latin diabolus, ultimately from Ancient Greek διάβολος (diábolos, “false accuser, slanderer”), also as "Satan" (in Jewish/Christian usage, translating Biblical Hebrew שָׂטָן (śātān)), from διαβάλλω (diabállō, “to slander”), literally “to throw across”, from διά (diá, “through, across”) + βάλλω (bállō, “throw”). The Old English word was probably adopted under influence of Latin diabolus (itself from the Greek). Other Germanic languages adopted the word independently: compare Saterland Frisian Düüwel (“devil”), West Frisian duvel (“devil”), Dutch duivel, duvel (“devil”), German Low German Düvel (“devil”), German Teufel (“devil”), Bavarian Teifl (“devil”), Danish djævel (“devil”), Swedish djävul (“devil”) (older: djefvul, Old Swedish diævul, Old Norse djǫfull). Doublet of diable, diablo, and diabolus.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"'Well, I'm damned,' said Bond. 'Of course that old devil M never told me. He just gives one the facts. Never tells one any good news. I suppose he thinks it might influence one's decision to take a case or not.'" — 1954, Ian Fleming, “The Red Carpet”, in Live and Let Die, London: Pan Books, published 1957, page 8:

"For he will not leave his listener to dwell upon sorrow when the print office beckons and he can show you what a good little devil he became." — 2010, Andrea Levy, The Long Song, Tinder Press (2017), page 381:

"The formation of tornados and water-spouts is very probably identical with that of dust-storms and "devils," viz., a sudden disturbance of the vertical equilibrium of the atmosphere, where by an upward rush of air is generated, which rapidly becomes spiral." — 1877, H. F. Blandford, Indian Meteorologist's Vade-mecum, page 140:

"There are few sights more appalling than a sandstorm in the desert, the "Zauba'ah" as the Arabs call it. Devils, or pillars of sand, vertical and inclined, measuring a thousand feet high[.]" — 1885, Richard F. Burton, chapter XII, in The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, volume I, The Burton Club, page 114 footnote:

"Men and women busy in baking, broiling, roasting oysters, and preparing devils on the gridiron." — 1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], →OCLC:

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