Diabolicalness

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Diabolic \Di`a*bol"ic\, Diabolical \Di`a*bol"ic*al\, a. [L.
     diabolicus, Gr. ? devilish, slanderous: cf. F. diabolique.
     See {Devil}.]
     1. Pertaining to the devil; resembling, or appropriate, or
        appropriate to, the devil; befitting hell or satan;
        devilish; infernal; impious; as, a diabolic or diabolical


        temper or act; the diabolical expression on his face;
        fires lit up a diabolic scene. "Diabolic power." --Milton.
        "The diabolical institution." --Motley.
  
     Syn: devilish, mephistophelian, mephistophelean.
          [1913 Webster]
  
     2. showing a wicked cunning or ingenuity; as, the cold
        calculation and diabolic art of some statesmen.
  
     Syn: devilish, mephistophelian, mephistophelean.
          [WordNet 1.5]
  
     3. extremely evil or cruel; atrocious; outrageously wicked;
        as, diabolical sorcerers under the influence of devils;
        diabolical torturers taking pleasure in their craft.
  
     Syn: demonic, fiendish, hellish, infernal, nefarious,
          satanic.
          [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5] -- {Di`a*bol"ic*al*ly},
          adv. -- {Di`a*bol"ic*al*ness}, n.