How Do You Spell DIABOLICALLY?

Pronunciation: [dˌa͡ɪəbˈɒlɪkli] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "diabolically" might seem intimidating, but it's simply pronounced as /ˌdaɪ.əˈbɒl.ɪ.kə.li/. The first syllable "di-" comes from the Greek prefix "dia-", meaning "through" or "across". The next syllable "bol" comes from the Greek word "diabolos", meaning "devil" or "slanderer". Lastly, the suffix "-ically" indicates that the adverb is formed from the noun "diabolical." So, the spelling might seem diabolical, but with a little bit of understanding of its etymology, it's not so scary after all.

DIABOLICALLY Meaning and Definition

  1. Diabolically is an adverb that is often used to describe actions or behaviors that are extremely wicked, evil, or cruel in nature. Derived from the word "diabolical," which stems from the Latin word "diabolicus" meaning "devilish," diabolically suggests a malevolent or sinister intent.

    When someone acts diabolically, they intentionally engage in malicious or harmful actions with a calculated and sinister motive. It signifies a deliberate and conscious effort to cause harm, suffering, or chaos to others. Such actions are often considered morally reprehensible and go beyond what is considered normal or acceptable behavior.

    Diabolically can also be used to describe something in an extreme or excessive manner. For example, a diabolically difficult puzzle would be one that is exceptionally challenging and requires an extraordinary level of skill and intelligence to solve.

    Furthermore, the term can be extended to describe something that is extremely effective or skillfully designed to achieve a particular outcome, especially when it involves devious or cunning methods. For instance, a plan or strategy that is diabolically clever would imply that it is ingeniously crafted to outsmart or manipulate others.

    Overall, diabolically portrays the concept of intense maliciousness or evil, emphasizing a conscious effort to cause harm or to achieve an objective through cunning and deceit.

Common Misspellings for DIABOLICALLY

Etymology of DIABOLICALLY

The word "diabolically" is derived from the adjective "diabolic", which comes from the Latin word "diabolicus". The Latin term is a combination of the Greek word "diabolos" (meaning "slanderer" or "accuser") and the Greek prefix "dia-" (meaning "through" or "across"). The word "diabolos" itself originally comes from the Greek verb "diaballein", which means "to throw across" or "to slander". Over time, "diabolicus" was adopted into Old French as "diabolique", and then into Middle English as "diabolical". "Diabolically" is the adverbial form of "diabolical", which is commonly used to describe something devilish, evil, or wicked in an exaggerated or extreme manner.

Similar spelling words for DIABOLICALLY

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