Extremely evil or wicked; characteristic of the devil or a demon.
From Greek 'diabolikos' meaning 'of the devil,' derived from 'diaballein' (to slander or deceive). The prefix 'dia-' means 'across' and 'ballein' means 'to throw,' originally suggesting something that divides or causes harm. The word entered English through Medieval Latin and Old French.
The word literally means 'thrown across'—as if evil creates a rift or separation between people. Medieval storytellers used this term to describe supernatural villains, and today it's our go-to word for any spectacularly evil supervillain scheme, from cartoons to real-life plots.
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