archfiend

noun
/ˈɑɹt͡ʃ.find/US

Etymology

From arch- + fiend. Compare German Erzfeind, Dutch aartsvijand.

  1. derived from *peh₁-
  2. inherited from *fijandz
  3. inherited from *fijand
  4. inherited from fēond — “enemy
  5. inherited from fend
  6. prefixed as archfiend — “arch + fiend

Definitions

  1. A chief fiend (devil, demon or monster).

    • Of those [spirits] who rebelled some became devils, fiends or archfiends, according to the manifold proportions of their transgression.
    • Seven chief demons, seven archfiends, aid Ahriman in his struggle against the forces of light.
  2. Satan.

    • So stretcht out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay Chain’d on the burning Lake,
    • In disobedience to his God, Did man himself call down the rod? Or did th’ arch-fiend, from Heav’n that fell, Inspire the mischief to rebel?
  3. A diabolically evil person.

    • 1690, anonymous translator, The Royal Wanton (attributed to Gregorio Leti), London: F.B., Part 5, p. 48, […] her Arch-fiend and Devil of a Lord, had impudently sent the same Villain to abuse her once again.
    • So this is a plot to shield this arch-fiend, and I have detected it. A word from me, and three heads besides his would roll from their shoulders!
    • Possibly Beauty Smith, arch-fiend and tormentor, was capable of breaking White Fang’s spirit, but as yet there were not signs of his succeeding.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for archfiend. 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