diabolic

• diabolick (obsolete)

From Middle English diabolik, from Middle French diabolique, from Late Latin diabolicus, from Ancient Greek διαβολικός (diabolikós, “devilish”), from διάβολος (diábolos, “devil”). First attested in 1350–1400.

• IPA^(key): /ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪk/

• Audio (Southern England):

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diabolic (comparative more diabolic, superlative most diabolic)

1. Of, being, or pertaining to a devil or the Devil.

   diabolic magic square

   • 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 259:

     "The Sovereign Council of Wisdom," or the Order of Palladium, founded in Paris, was a diabolic order claiming masonic origin.

2. (figuratively) Having qualities traditionally attributed to devils.
   1. (especially) Wicked; evil; cruel.

      a cunning and diabolic plot

      fires lit up a diabolic scene

• devilish, mephistophelian, mephistophelean
• demonic, fiendish, hellish, infernal, satanic, unholy

• Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “diabolic”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

• biocidal

Borrowed from French diabolique, from Latin diabolicus.

diabolic m or n (feminine singular diabolică, masculine plural diabolici, feminine/neuter plural diabolice)

1. diabolical