The word "be devil" is a two-word phrase that means to torment or harass someone. Its spelling is interesting because of how it is pronounced. In the IPA phonetic transcription, the first syllable is pronounced as /bi:/, which sounds like "bee". The second syllable is spelled as /'dev.l/, which means that the 'd' and 'e' are pronounced separately from the rest of the letters, and the 'v' is pronounced strongly. The word is commonly written as "bedevil" as well.
The phrase "be devil" is a verb that refers to the act of tormenting, troubling, or harassing someone or something persistently and severely. Derived from the words "be" and "devil," the term conveys the notion of being possessed or influenced by diabolical forces, as if one's actions or behavior were compelled or directed by an evil spirit.
The phrase can also be used metaphorically to describe a situation or circumstance that causes extreme difficulty, frustration, or distress, making it resemble an infernal challenge. It implies a state of intense provocation or annoyance, as if being subjected to malicious or malevolent forces that continuously plague or plague the affected individual or entity.
To "be devil" can encompass various forms of affliction, such as persistent doubts, anxieties, troubles, temptations, or obstacles. It suggests a continuous and often overwhelming presence of negative forces or influences that obstruct progress, peace, or happiness.
In summary, "be devil" is a verb meaning to torment or harass persistently, either in a literal sense or metaphorically as a symbol of continuous adversity or distress caused by diabolical or malevolent forces. It implies a state of being beset by difficulties that seem insurmountable, akin to being under the spell of an evil entity.
The word "be devil" is a verb phrase composed of the verb "be" and the noun "devil". The term originated in Middle English and can be traced back to Old English.
The word "devil" comes from the Old English noun "dēofol", which in turn derived from the Latin noun "diabolus". The Latin term "diabolus" originated from the Greek noun "diabolos", meaning "slanderer" or "accuser". "Diabolos" is a combination of the Greek prefix "dia-" (meaning "across" or "through") and the verb "ballein" (meaning "to throw" or "to cast"). Hence, the original Greek word reflected the idea of a "slanderer" who throws or casts doubts.