देव

See also: देवी, देवृ, दैव, and द्व

Awadhi

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit देव (devá), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *daywás, from Proto-Indo-European *deywós (“angel, the celestial one”).

Noun

देव (dev) (plural देवन)

1. deity, god, deva
   • Tulsidas, संकटमोचन हनुमानाष्टक :

     देवन आनि करी बिनती

     devan āni karī bintī

Hindi

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Sanskrit देव (deva), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *daywás, from Proto-Indo-European *deywós (“god, the celestial one”).

Pronunciation

• (Delhi Hindi) IPA^(key): /d̪eːʋ/

Noun

देव • (dev) m (Urdu spelling دیو‎)

1. (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism) deity, god, deva

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:भगवान

Usage notes

The use of देव (dev) is generally restricted to compound words and proper names (रामदेव (rāmdev), हरदेव (hardev), etc.)

Declension

Declension of देव (masc cons-stem)

	singular	plural
direct	देव dev	देव dev
oblique	देव dev	देवों devõ
vocative	देव dev	देवो devo

Derived terms

• देवकन्या (devkanyā, “nymph, celestial maiden”)
• देवकार्य (devkārya, “religious rite for propitiating a deity”)
• देवकुल (devkul, “pantheon”)
• देवगृह (devgŕh, “temple, abode of a deity”)
• देवता (devtā)
• देवत्रिय (devatriy, “the Holy Trinity of Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva”)
• देवदूत (devdūt, “angel, divine messenger”)

 

Related terms

• देवी (devī)

Proper noun

देव • (dev) m (Urdu spelling دیو‎)

1. a male given name, Dev, from Sanskrit

Declension

Declension of देव (masc cons-stem)

	singular	plural
direct	देव dev	देव dev
oblique	देव dev	देवों devõ
vocative	देव dev	देवो devo

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Classical Persian دیو‎ (dēw).

Noun

देव • (dev) m (Urdu spelling دیو‎)

1. demon
2. jinn, genie
3. giant

Declension

Declension of देव (masc cons-stem)

	singular	plural
direct	देव dev	देव dev
oblique	देव dev	देवों devõ
vocative	देव dev	देवो devo

References

• Bahri, Hardev (1989), “देव”, in Siksarthi Hindi-Angrejhi Sabdakosa [Learners' Hindi-English Dictionary], Delhi: Rajpal & Sons.
• McGregor, Ronald Stuart (1993), “देव”, in The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary, London: Oxford University Press
• Dāsa, Śyāmasundara (1965–1975), “देव”, in Hindī Śabdasāgara [lit. Sea of Hindi words] (in Hindi), Kashi [Varanasi]: Nagari Pracarini Sabha
• Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985), “dēvá”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press

Marathi

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit देव (deva), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *daywás, from Proto-Indo-European *deywós (“god, the celestial one”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d̪eʋ/

Noun

देव • (dev) m

1. (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism) deity, god, deva

Declension

Declension of देव (dev)
direct singular	देव dev
direct plural	देव dev
	singular		plural
nominative	देव dev		देव dev
oblique	देवा- devā-		देवां- devāN-
dative	देवाला devālā		देवांना devāNnā
ergative	देवाने devāne		देवांनी devāNni
instrumental	देवाशी devāśi		देवांशी devāNśi
locative	देवात devāt		देवांत devāNt
vocative	देवा devā		देवांनो devāNno
Oblique Note: The oblique case precedes all postpositions. There is no space between the stem and the postposition. Dative Note: -स (-sa) is archaic. -ते (-te) is limited to literary usage. Locative Note: -त (-ta) is a postposition.

Genitive declension of देव
	masculine object		feminine object		neuter object		oblique
	singular	plural	singular	plural	singular*	plural
singular subject	देवाचा devāċā	देवाचे devāce	देवाची devāci	देवाच्या devāca	देवाचे, देवाचं devāce, devāċa	देवाची devāci	देवाच्या devāca
plural subject	देवांचा devāNċā	देवांचे devāNce	देवांची devāNci	देवांच्या devāNca	देवांचे, देवांचं devāNce, devāNċa	देवांची devāNci	देवांच्या devāNca
* Note: Word-final ए (e) in neuter words is alternatively written with the anusvara and pronounced as अ (a). Oblique Note: For most postpostions, the oblique genitive can be optionally inserted between the stem and the postposition.

Related terms

• देवी (devī)

Proper noun

देव • (dev) m

1. a male given name, Dev, from Sanskrit

References

• Berntsen, Maxine, “देव”, in A Basic Marathi-English Dictionary, New Delhi: American Institute of Indian Studies, 1982-1983.
• Molesworth, James Thomas (1857), “देव”, in A dictionary, Marathi and English, Bombay: Printed for government at the Bombay Education Society's Press
• Shridhar Ganesh Vaze (1911), “देव”, in The Aryabhusan School Dictionary, Poona: Arya-Bhushan Press

Old Gujarati

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit देव (devá); from Proto-Indo-Iranian *daywás, from Proto-Indo-European *deywós (“god, the celestial one”).

Noun

देव • (deva) m

1. god

Pali

Alternative forms

Alternative forms

• deva (Latin script)
• 𑀤𑁂𑀯 (Brahmi script)
• দেৰ (Bengali script)
• දෙව (Sinhalese script)
• ဒေဝ or ၻေဝ (Burmese script)
• เทว or เทวะ (Thai script)
• ᨴᩮᩅ (Tai Tham script)
• ເທວ or ເທວະ (Lao script)
• ទេវ (Khmer script)
• 𑄘𑄬𑅇 (Chakma script)

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-Aryan *daywás, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *daywás, from Proto-Indo-European *deywós (“god, the celestial one”). Cognate with Avestan 𐬛𐬀𐬉𐬎𐬎𐬀‎ (daēuua), Classical Persian دیو‎ (dēv), Latin deus, divus.

Noun

देव m

1. Devanagari script form of deva

Declension

Declension table of "देव" (masculine)

Case \ Number	Singular	Plural
Nominative (first)	देवो (devo)	देवा (devā)
Accusative (second)	देवं (devaṃ)	देवे (deve)
Instrumental (third)	देवेन (devena)	देवेहि (devehi) or देवेभि (devebhi)
Dative (fourth)	देवस्स (devassa) or देवाय (devāya) or देवत्थं (devatthaṃ)	देवानं (devānaṃ)
Ablative (fifth)	देवस्मा (devasmā) or देवम्हा (devamhā) or देवा (devā)	देवेहि (devehi) or देवेभि (devebhi)
Genitive (sixth)	देवस्स (devassa)	देवानं (devānaṃ)
Locative (seventh)	देवस्मिं (devasmiṃ) or देवम्हि (devamhi) or देवे (deve)	देवेसु (devesu)
Vocative (calling)	देव (deva)	देवा (devā)

Rajasthani

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Sanskrit देव (deva).

Noun

देव (dev) ?

1. deity
2. god

Related terms

• देवरौ (devrau)

Sanskrit

Alternative scripts

Alternative scripts

• ᬤᬾᬯ (Balinese script)
• দেৱ (Assamese script)
• দেব (Bengali script)
• 𑰟𑰸𑰪 (Bhaiksuki script)
• 𑀤𑁂𑀯 (Brahmi script)
• 𑌦𑍇𑌵 (Grantha script)
• દેવ (Gujarati script)
• ਦੇਵ (Gurmukhi script)
• ꦢꦺꦮ (Javanese script)
• ទេវ (Khmer script)
• ದೇವ (Kannada script)
• ເທວ (Lao script)
• ദേവ (Malayalam script)
• 𑘟𑘹𑘪 (Modi script)
• ᢑᠧᠸᠠ᠋ (Mongolian script)
• ᡩᡝᠸᠠ (Manchu script)
• ဒေဝ (Burmese script)
• 𑦿𑧚𑧊 (Nandinagari script)
• 𑐡𑐾𑐰 (Newa script)
• ଦେଵ (Odia script)
• ꢣꢾꢮ (Saurashtra script)
• 𑆢𑆼𑆮 (Sharada script)
• 𑖟𑖸𑖪 (Siddham script)
• දේව (Sinhalese script)
• த³ேவ (Tamil script)
• దేవ (Telugu script)
• เทว (Thai script)
• དེ་ཝ (Tibetan script)
• 𑒠𑒹𑒫 (Tirhuta script)

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-Aryan *daywás, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *daywás, from Proto-Indo-European *deywós (“god, the celestial one”). Cognate with Avestan 𐬛𐬀𐬉𐬎𐬎𐬀‎ (daēuua), Classical Persian دیو‎ (dēv), Latin deus, divus.

Pronunciation

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /dɐj.ʋɐ́/
• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈd̪eː.ʋɐ/

Adjective

देव • (devá) root form (Vedic daivá)

1. heavenly, divine, also said of terrestrial things of high excellence (Rigvedic)

Noun

देव • (devá) root form, m (Vedic daivá)

1. deity, god, the gods as the heavenly or shining ones, often reckoned as numbering 33, either 11 for each of the 3 worlds, or or 8 vasus, 11 rudras, and 12 ādityas, to which the 2 aśvins must be added. (Rigvedic, also accented déva according to Panini 3.3.120)
   • Yāska, Nirukta 7.15:,

     devo dānādvā dīpanādvā dyotanādvā dyusthāno bhavatīti vā yo devaḥ sā devatā

     • 1967 translation by Sarup, Lakshman

       Deva (god) is (so called) from making gifts (√dā) or from being brilliant (√dip), from being radiant (√dyut), or because his sphere is heaven. He who is called god (deva) is also called deity (devatā).

2. rarely also of evil demons (Atharvaveda, Taittiriya Samhita)
3. name of Indra as the god of the sky and giver of rain (Epics)
4. the image of a god, an idol (Vishnu-Smriti)
5. a god on earth or among men, either Brahman, priest or king, prince, as a title of honour, especially in the vocative "your majesty" or " your honour" (Rigvedic)
6. name of the number 33 (Gaṇitādhyāya)
7. as a given name, Diminutive of देवदत्त (devadatta) (Panini 5.3.83)

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of देव (devá)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	देवः deváḥ	देवौ devaú	देवाः / देवासः¹ devā́ḥ / devā́saḥ¹
Vocative	देव déva	देवौ dévau	देवाः / देवासः¹ dévāḥ / dévāsaḥ¹
Accusative	देवम् devám	देवौ devaú	देवान् devā́n
Instrumental	देवेन devéna	देवाभ्याम् devā́bhyām	देवैः / देवेभिः¹ devaíḥ / devébhiḥ¹
Dative	देवाय devā́ya	देवाभ्याम् devā́bhyām	देवेभ्यः devébhyaḥ
Ablative	देवात् devā́t	देवाभ्याम् devā́bhyām	देवेभ्यः devébhyaḥ
Genitive	देवस्य devásya	देवयोः deváyoḥ	देवानाम् devā́nām
Locative	देवे devé	देवयोः deváyoḥ	देवेषु devéṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Feminine ī-stem declension of देवी (devī)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	देवी devī	देव्यौ / देवी¹ devyau / devī¹	देव्यः / देवीः¹ devyaḥ / devīḥ¹
Vocative	देवि devi	देव्यौ / देवी¹ devyau / devī¹	देव्यः / देवीः¹ devyaḥ / devīḥ¹
Accusative	देवीम् devīm	देव्यौ / देवी¹ devyau / devī¹	देवीः devīḥ
Instrumental	देव्या devyā	देवीभ्याम् devībhyām	देवीभिः devībhiḥ
Dative	देव्यै devyai	देवीभ्याम् devībhyām	देवीभ्यः devībhyaḥ
Ablative	देव्याः devyāḥ	देवीभ्याम् devībhyām	देवीभ्यः devībhyaḥ
Genitive	देव्याः devyāḥ	देव्योः devyoḥ	देवीनाम् devīnām
Locative	देव्याम् devyām	देव्योः devyoḥ	देवीषु devīṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Neuter a-stem declension of देव (devá)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	देवम् devám	देवे devé	देवानि / देवा¹ devā́ni / devā́¹
Vocative	देव déva	देवे déve	देवानि / देवा¹ dévāni / dévā¹
Accusative	देवम् devám	देवे devé	देवानि / देवा¹ devā́ni / devā́¹
Instrumental	देवेन devéna	देवाभ्याम् devā́bhyām	देवैः / देवेभिः¹ devaíḥ / devébhiḥ¹
Dative	देवाय devā́ya	देवाभ्याम् devā́bhyām	देवेभ्यः devébhyaḥ
Ablative	देवात् devā́t	देवाभ्याम् devā́bhyām	देवेभ्यः devébhyaḥ
Genitive	देवस्य devásya	देवयोः deváyoḥ	देवानाम् devā́nām
Locative	देवे devé	देवयोः deváyoḥ	देवेषु devéṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Derived terms

• देवता (devatā)
• देवसभा (devasabhā)

 

Descendants

• Pali: deva (see there for further descendants)

Terms inherited from Prakrit 𑀤𑁂𑀯 (deva)

• Dardic:
  • Shina: دیو‎ (deu, “demon, ogre”)
• Southern:
  • Dhivehi: ދެވި‎ (devi, “demon”)
• Eastern:
  • Assamese: দেউ (deu, “evil spirit”)
  • Odia: ଦେଉ (deu, “prince”)
• Northwestern:
  • Punjabi:

    Punjabi: ਦੇਉ (deu, “god, devil”)

    Punjabi: دیو‎ (deu, “god, devil”)

    • Lahnda: دیو‎ (deo)
  • Sindhi:

    Arabic script: ڏيو‎ (ḍ̠eu)

    Devanagari script: ॾेउ (ḍ̠eu)

• Northern:
  • Bhadrawahi: देऊ (deū, “rain”)
  • Kumaoni: द्यो (“god, rain”), दिओ (“rain”)
  • Nepali: देउ (deu, “god”)

Borrowings

• → Proto-Nuristani:
  • Waigali: [script needed] (dē, “god, oath”)
• → Assamese: দেৱ (dew)
• → Awadhi: देव (dev)
• → English: deva
• → Hindi: देव (dev)
• → Old Gujarati: देव (deva)
• → Kannada: ದೇವ (dēva)
• → Kashmiri: دیو‎ (dev)
• → Malay: dewa
• → Marathi: देव (dev)
• → Odia: ଦେବ (debô)
• → Punjabi: ਦੇਵ (dev)
• → Rajasthani: देव
• → Kalasha: [script needed] (dewa, “god”)
• → Tamil: தேவன் (tēvaṉ)
• → Telugu: దేవుడు (dēvuḍu)

Further reading

• Monier Williams (1899), “देव”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, […], new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 492.