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 .

Notes

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

In the Book of Revelations, Michael and his army of angels cast Satan and his minions out of heaven.

From Los Angeles Times

At this time, Satan comes to him, offering the same three temptations, at least as Christians understand it, that can pull anyone and everyone off their true path.

From Salon

And he added: "You know a lot has been made of his evil alliance with the dark lord, Satan, but in truth, Ozzy is a loving father and husband and friend."

From BBC

The ayatollahs who call Israel the Little Satan and America the Great Satan have bigger ambitions than just destroying the Jewish state.

From Los Angeles Times

Signature line: Stage director on the big dance show: “The name of the show is ‘Satan’s Alley.’

From Los Angeles Times