Hypertext Webster Gateway: "diabolic"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Diabolic \Di`a*bol"ic\, Diabolical \Di`a*bol"ic*al\, a. [L.
diabolicus, Gr. ? devilish, slanderous: cf. F. diabolique.
See {Devil}.]
Pertaining to the devil; resembling, or appropriate, or
appropriate to, the devil; devilish; infernal; impious;
atrocious; nefarious; outrageously wicked; as, a diabolic or
diabolical temper or act. ``Diabolic power.'' --Milton. ``The
diabolical institution.'' --Motley. -- {Di`a*bol"ic*al*ly},
adv. -- {Di`a*bol"ic*al*ness}, n.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
diabolic
adj 1: showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a
devil; "devilish schemes"; "the cold calculation and
diabolic art of some statesmen"; "the diabolical
expression on his face"; "a mephistophelian glint in
his eye" [syn: {devilish}, {diabolical}, {mephistophelian},
{mephistophelean}]
2: extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting
hell; "something demonic in him--something that could be
cruel"; "fires lit up a diabolic scene"; "diabolical
sorcerers under the influence of devils"; "a fiendish
despot"; "hellish torture"; "infernal instruments of war";
"satanic cruelty"; "unholy grimaces" [syn: {demonic}, {diabolical},
{fiendish}, {hellish}, {infernal}, {satanic}, {unholy}]
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