Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


fiend

fiend

(fēnd)
,
Noun.
[OE.
fend
,
find
,
fiend
,
feond
, fiend, foe, AS.
feónd
; akin to OS.
fīond
, D.
vijand
enemy, OHG.
fīant
, G.
feind
, Icel.
fjānd
, Sw. & Dan.
fiende
, Goth.
fijands
; orig. p. pr. of a verb meaning
to hate
, AS.
feón
,
feógan
, OHG.
fī[GREEK]n
, Goth.
fijan
, Skr.
pīy
to scorn; prob. akin to E.
feud
a quarrel. √81. Cf.
Foe
,
Friend
.]
An implacable or malicious foe; one who is diabolically wicked or cruel; an infernal being; – applied specifically to the devil or a demon.
Into this wild abyss the wary
fiend

Stood on the brink of Hell and looked a while.
Milton.
O woman! woman! when to ill thy mind
Is bent, all hell contains no fouler
fiend
.
Pope.
–
Fiend′ful-ly
,
adv.

Webster 1828 Edition


Fiend

FIEND

,
Noun.
[See Feud, contention.]
An enemy in the worst sense; an implacable or malicious foe; the devil; an infernal being.
O woman! woman! when to ill thy mind is bent, all hell contains no fouler fiend.