1 diablerie | Definition of diablerie
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diablerie

noun
di·​a·​ble·​rie | \ dÄ“-ˈä-blÉ™-(ËŒ)rÄ“ How to pronounce diablerie (audio) , -ˈa-blÉ™- How to pronounce diablerie (audio) \

Definition of diablerie

1 : black magic : sorcery
2a : a representation in words or pictures of black magic or of dealings with the devil
b : demon lore
3 : mischievous conduct or manner
Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about diablerie

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Did You Know?

Feeling devilish? Then you might be guilty of at least a little diablerie. Like the related and perhaps more familiar diabolical, the French diablerie originated with the Late Latin diabolus, which means "devil." Fittingly, diablerie was first applied to things related to the devil or to demons, particularly sorcery that was thought to call upon their aid; the word is also applied to representations of the demonic. Nathaniel Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown and Sylvia Townsend Warner's Lolly Willowes contain examples of such representations in literature. Nowadays, the word often suggests a devilish quality or air in a musical performance or artistic work.

Examples of diablerie in a Sentence

the boy, who was once filled with diablerie, grew up to be a staid and rather dull man since the common folk had an unshakable belief in a personal devil, a charge of diablerie was taken seriously

First Known Use of diablerie

1726, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

History and Etymology for diablerie

French, from Old French, from dïable devil, from Late Latin diabolus — more at devil

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More from Merriam-Webster on diablerie

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for diablerie

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about diablerie

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