Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.
DIABOLIC
demonic, diabolic, diabolical, fiendish, hellish, infernal, satanic, unholy
(adjective) 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”
devilish, diabolic, diabolical, mephistophelian, mephistophelean
(adjective) 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”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
diabolic (comparative more diabolic, superlative most diabolic)
Showing wickedness typical of a devil.
Extremely evil or cruel.
Synonyms
• devilish, mephistophelian, mephistophelean
• demonic, fiendish, hellish, infernal, satanic, unholy
Anagrams
• biocidal
Source: Wiktionary
Di`a*bol"ic, Di`a*bol"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. diabolicus, Gr. diabolique. See Devil.]
Definition: 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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Word of the Day
28 February 2025
PRESCRIPTIVE
(adjective) pertaining to giving directives or rules; “prescriptive grammar is concerned with norms of or rules for correct usage”
Coffee Trivia
