bedevil

views updated May 23 2018

be·dev·il / biˈdevəl/ • v. (-dev·iled, -dev·il·ing; also chiefly Brit. -dev·illed, -dev·il·ling) [tr.] (of something bad) cause great and continual trouble to: inconsistencies that bedevil modern English spelling. ∎  (of a person) torment or harass: he bedeviled them with petty practical jokes.DERIVATIVES: be·dev·il·ment n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

bedevil

views updated May 14 2018

bedevil treat diabolically; play the devil with. XVIII. f. BE- + DEVIL.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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