dev- / Devil

[Gunthard Mueller]

Sorry, typo in my message from a second ago. Ital. diavolo, not diabolo.
Also, I should mention a theory according to which the -v- is due to secondary borrowing
from Byzantine Greek (-b- pronounced -v-).
Gunthard

gm at e-ternals.com

Gunthard Mueller wrote:

> "Devil" is not related to dev-. Devil is ultimately a derivative of Ancient Greek diábolos,
> an agent noun of diabállein (different ablaut) "to throw around, mislead, confuse".
> The original meaning is the "misleader, confuser". (diá "through/around", bállein "to
> throw", related to English/German ball/Ball).
> Diábolos is used as a synonym of Satan in the Greek Christian tradition, from where
> it reached Latin (as diabolus), with the same meaning. Legalese and proverbial advocatus
> diaboli "devil's advocate". The Latin form -- and concept... -- entered most European
> languages, e.g. Ital. diabolo, Engl. devil, German Teufel, etc.
>
> Regards,
> Gunthard
>
> gm at e-ternals.com
>
> "Aditya, the Cheerful Hindu Skeptic" wrote:
>
> > "Narayan R.Joshi" <giravani at JUNO.COM> has written as follows:
> >
> > >To the best of my knowledge, the verse 8 of Chapter16 of GItA describes the
> > >view of people of AasurI category. The words Daiva and Aasura are
> > >adjectives to the various people. Aasura people think that this world is
> > >created without any reason and it is without the God, the creator and hence
> > >only use of this world is enjoyment. This is the view of Aasura people
> > >only , not of DaivI people. Among people all are included, such as Sura,
> > >Asura, Deva, Daitya, DAnava,Manu.sya,Gandharva, Kinnara,Yaksha, RAkshasa,
> > >NAga, Sarpa,VAnara, SuparNa etc. Devotee PralhAda belonged to Asura people
> > >but he was of DaivI category because he was devotee of NArAyaNA. The same
> > >is true of Rakshasa Bibhi.saNa, brother of RAvaNa.Thanks.
> > Gita is not unique in labeling nonbelievers  with the most obnoxious
> > adjectives and epithets and therefore betrays its own human origin.
> >
> > It is easy to see that Deva and Asurs were two different sects who hated the
> > guts of each other just like communists and capitalists of this day. To the
> > followers of Asur or Ahur , the word Dev or Devil is as repugnant as Asur is
> > to the followers of the Dev.
> >
> > You cannot take the label  given by one to its enemy to define the true
> > nature of the enemy.
> >
> > Have a peaceful and joyous day.
> > Aditya Mishra
> > Primary email: a018967t at bc.seflin.org
> > Primary homepage: http://www.pompano.net/~aditya
> > ICQ # 1131674 Phone #: (954)746-0442  Fax # (209)315-8571
> > Random thought of the day:
> >         Happiness isn't something you experience; it's something you remember. ... Oscar Levant