Lucifer
nameEtymology
From Middle English Lucifer, from Latin Lūcifer (from lūx (“light”) + ferō (“bear, carry”)). Attested in Old English as Lūċifer. Replaced native calque lēohtberend (“lightbearer”) also from the same Latin source. Application of the name to Satan results from what is probably a misinterpretation of Isaiah 14:12 (whence also the corresponding sense of morning star).
Definitions
The planet Venus as the daystar (the morning star).
- Near-synonyms: Vesper, Hesperus, evening star, Venus
The King of Babylon who was compared to the planet Venus in first the Wycliffe version…
The King of Babylon who was compared to the planet Venus in first the Wycliffe version then the King James Version of Isaiah 14:12; it is unclear whether this verse refers to a specific king or to a representation of the entire line of kings of Babylon.
Satan, the Devil.
›+ 1 more definitionshow fewer
Ellipsis of lucifer match, sulfur or phosphorus friction matches.
- While you’ve a lucifer to light your fag, Smile, boys, that’s the style
- In the era of Twain and Grant cigar-smoking paraphernalia consisted mainly of a cigar cutter; the cigar itself was lit with a lucifer (safety match).
The neighborhood
Vish — recursive loop
No curated loop yet for Lucifer. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.
sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA