Satan

[seyt-n]

noun

1. the chief evil spirit; the great adversary of humanity; the devil.

Satan

/ ˈseɪtən /

noun

1. the devil, adversary of God, and tempter of mankind: sometimes identified with Lucifer (Luke 4:5–8)

Satan

1. The devil. In the Bible (see also Bible), Satan is identified with the tempter who encourages the fall of Adam and Eve; he is the accuser who torments Job in the hope that he will curse God; the one who offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus will worship him (see Get thee behind me, Satan); and the evil one who puts betrayal in the heart of Judas. Satan will one day be confined in hell, but until then he is free to roam the Earth.

Satan has been depicted in many ways: as a man with horns, goat hooves, a pointed tail, a pointed beard, and a pitchfork; as a dragon; and sometimes as an angel with large batlike wings.

Satan is the power of darkness opposed to the light of Christ; he is thus sometimes referred to as the Prince of Darkness.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Satan¹

before 900; Middle English, Old English < Late Latin < Greek Satân, Satán < Hebrew śātān adversary

Word History and Origins

Origin of Satan¹

Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek, from Hebrew: plotter, from sātan to plot against

Example Sentences

She claimed the event was filled with “occult symbols” and ceremonies, calling it not just an eccentric festival but “one of the most effective tools for Satan to misdirect souls away from our Heavenly Father.”

From Los Angeles Times

One of their favorite groups was Slayer, a popular metal act that featured a song with lyrics about worshiping Satan and sacrificing a blonde, blue-eyed virgin.

From Los Angeles Times

It limply dangles between his legs as he slides into the sheets next to a very turned-off Satan, who dumped Saddam Hussein only to fall for someone who sounds and acts exactly like him.

From Salon

"In a moment of stupidity and weakness," Cronje himself said, "I allowed Satan to dictate terms to me rather than the Lord."

From BBC

In 2006, the quadruple-platinum “Black Parade” LP arrived as a concept album about a dying cancer patient; Way and his bandmates dressed in military garb that made them look like members of Satan’s marching band.

From Los Angeles Times