Definition

Proper noun * The Devil, Satan: A traditional, often informal or euphemistic name for the chief spirit of evil and adversary of God in Christian belief; the tempter of mankind and master of Hell.

Usage

"Old Nick" is used as a proper name to refer to the Devil. It is often found in older texts, folklore, proverbs, and informal speech. It can carry a tone that is less formal than "Satan" or "the Devil," sometimes appearing in cautionary tales or expressions.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• Euphemistic and Folkloric Use: The term is deeply embedded in English and European folklore. It often personifies evil or mischief in a way that is more narrative and less theologically formal than "Satan."
  • The tale was a classic one: a man selling his soul to Old Nick at the crossroads.

Variants and Related Words

• Nick: A shortened, even more informal variant.
  • He swore he'd seen Old Nick, or just Nick, dancing in the flames.
• The Devil: The standard term.
• Satan: The name derived from Hebrew, common in religious contexts.
• The Adversary: A formal title.
• The Tempter: Emphasizes the role of tempting humans to sin.
• The Prince of Darkness: A poetic and dramatic title.

Synonyms

• Beelzebub
• Lucifer
• Mephistopheles
• The Evil One
• The Foul Fiend

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To play Old Nick: To cause serious trouble or mischief.
  • The wind played Old Nick with the washing on the line, scattering it across the garden.
• Give the Old Nick his due: A variant of "give the devil his due," meaning to acknowledge a positive quality in someone you dislike or who is generally bad.
  • I don't trust him, but to give the Old Nick his due, he always pays his debts on time.

Noun

1. (Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell