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archfiend

American  
[ahrch-feend] / ˈɑrtʃˈfind /

noun

  1. a chief fiend.

  2. Satan.


archfiend British  
/ ˌɑːtʃˈfiːnd /

noun

  1. (often capital) the chief of fiends or devils; Satan

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of archfiend

First recorded in 1660–70; arch- 1 + fiend

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Granted, it has been enriched by its association with Dr. Mabuse, the archfiend of fiction, screen and comic books, starting with the novels of Norbert Jacques and the films of Fritz Lang.

From New York Times • Oct. 7, 2010

The hunchbacked creature was Al Pacino, in makeup and costume as the archfiend Big Boy Caprice, and the object of his admiration was Warren Beatty.

From Time Magazine Archive

Who ever imagined, for example, combatting the archfiend with handguns and encrypted e-mail?

From Time Magazine Archive

If I took this $600,000 and personally appropriated it, I would be the archfiend of the ages.

From Time Magazine Archive

The breeze was the ultimate archfiend and there can be no question as to its motivation.

From Collector's Item by Young, Robert F.