Devil/ˈdevl/ Definition 1 of 5Pro Tip 1/3Religious Origin Originally linked to religious beliefs about evil beings opposing good. Many cultures have stories featuring the devil in a battle against gods. Pro Tip 2/3Negative Emotion Evokes fear or disapproval, often used to scare or warn people. Parents might say 'Behave or the devil will get you!' to their kids. Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal In modern usage, it's not always a literal belief but can be metaphorical. When the computer crashed, she cursed the devil inside it.