deofol

Old English

Alternative forms

• dēoful, dīoful, dīofol

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *diubul.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈde͜oː.fol/, [ˈde͜oː.vol]

Noun

dēofol n

1. the Devil, Satan
2. a demon, devil
   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Memory of the Saints"

     Nū syndon eahta hēafod-mæġnu ðā magan ofer-swīðan þās foresǣdan dēoflu þurh drihtnes fultum.

     Now there are eight Chief Virtues, which may overcome these aforesaid devils, through the Lord's assistance.

   • c. 992, Ælfric, "Sexigesima Sunday"

     Dēoflu sind fuglas ġeċīeġedu for þon þe hīe flēogaþ ġeond þās lyft unġesewenlīċe, swā swā fuglas dōþ ġesewenlīċe.

     Demons are called birds because they fly through the air invisibly, just as birds do visibly.

   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Memory of the Saints"

     Seo eahteoðe leahter is superbia gehaten þæt is on ænglisc modigynss gecweden. Seo is ord and ende ælcere synne. Seo geworhte englas to atelicum deoflum...

     The eighth sin is called Superbia that is called Pride, in English, which is the beginning and end of every sin; it made angels into horrible devils,...

Usage notes

• This word can sometimes be masculine in the singular, though it is almost always neuter in the plural.
• In the sense "Satan" it can be used either with or without a definite article.

Declension

Declension of dēofol (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	dēofol	dēoflu
accusative	dēofol	dēoflu
genitive	dēofles	dēofla
dative	dēofle	dēoflum

Derived terms

• dēofolġield
• dēofollīċ
• dēofolsēoc

Descendants

• Middle English: devel, deovel, deevel, devil, dyvel, devul, devyl, devell, devyll, deul, dewel, deyle, devull, dele
  • English: devil (see there for further descendants)
  • Scots: deil, deel, deevil
  • Yola: deevil, deel (syncopated)