devilry
nounUK /ˈdɛv.əl.ɹi/
Etymology From Middle English develrye; equivalent to devil + -ry.
1
Mischief.
- Their newfound devilry : prank-calling local businesses.2007 January 2, Arianne Cohen, Colleen Kinder, Confessions of a High School Word Nerd: Laugh Your Gluteus* Off and Increase Your SAT Verbal Score, Penguin, →ISBN, page 124:
2
Wickedness; cruelty.
- "The Master's Society wishes to overturn the world order into his hands by devilry and chaos. There is good news that Mr. Stevens is repentant and under our employ and gave us a significant store of antidote for the violent toxin. We can dose the MPs."2016 August 9, Leanna Renee Hieber, Eterna and Omega: The Eterna Files #2, Macmillan, →ISBN, page 239:
3
An action performed with the help of a devil; witchcraft.
4
An act of such mischief, wickedness, cruelty, or witchcraft.
- […] pranks and devilries which turned slowly more unpleasant.2023 September 19, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Untamed Shore, Del Rey, →ISBN:
- Derived terms
- printer's devilry