Crossword clues for mephistopheles
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Mephistopheles \Meph*is*toph"e*les\ (m[e^]f*[i^]s*tof"[-e]*l[=e]z) [Written Mephostophilus in Shakespeare, Fletcher etc., Mephostophilis in Marlowe, but now generally Mephistopheles, as in Goethe: a made-up name, like most of the names of the medieval devils, but supposed by some to be formed (irregularly) from Gr. mh`, not, fw^s (fwt-), light, and fi`los, loving.] A familiar spirit mentioned in the old legend of Sir John Faustus, and a principal agent in Marlowe's play Dr. Faustus and in Goethe's Faust. In medieval demonology, he was one of the seven chief devils.
He is frequently referred to as ``the Devil,'' but it
was well understood that he was only a devil. Goethe
took only the name and a few circumstances connected
with the first appearance of Mephistopheles from the
legend: the character, from first to last, is his own
creation; and, in his own words, ``on account of the
irony and knowledge of the world it displays, is not
easily comprehended.'' Although he sometimes slyly used
it (though less frequently than Faust) as a mask
through which to speak with his own voice, he evidently
drew the germ of some characteristics from his early
associate, Merck. . . . The original form of this name
was Mephostophiles. There has been much discussion in
regard to its meaning, but D["u]ntzen's conjecture is
probably correct, -- that it was imperfectly formed by
some one who knew little Greek, and was intended to
signify ``not loving the light.''
--B. Taylor,
Notes to
Faust.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1590s, the evil spirit to whom Faust sold his soul in the German legend, from German (1587), of unknown origin. According to the speculation of eminent Göthe scholar K.J. Schröer (1886) it is a compound of Hebrew mephitz "destroyer" + tophel "liar" (short for tophel sheqer, literally "falsehood plasterer;" see Job xiii:4). Klein writes that the names of devils in the Middle Ages "are in most cases derived from Hebrew."
Wikipedia
Mephistopheles (, ; also Mephistophilus, Mephistophilis, Mephostopheles, Mephisto, Mephastophilis, Jackie and variants) is a demon featured in German folklore. He originally appeared in literature as the demon in the Faust legend, and he has since appeared in other works as a stock character.
Usage examples of "mephistopheles".
Groups of English and American students in their irreproachable evening attire, groups of French students in someone else's doubtful evening attire, crowds of rustling silken dominoes, herds of crackling muslin dominoes, countless sad-faced Pierrots, fewer sad-faced Capuchins, now and then a slim Mephistopheles, now and then a fat, stolid Turk, 'Arry, Tom, and Billy, redolent of plum pudding and Seven Dials, Gontran, Gaston and Achille, savoring of brasseries and the Sorbonne.
They have indulged in their first embrace, and said their farewells till to-morrow: Faust is about to depart, when Mephistopheles detains him and points to Marguerite, who is burdening the perfumed air with her new ecstasy.
Mephistopheles had given Mack a glass of barley wine to buck him up after his close call.
I had Mephistopheles create a computer virus to infect the food banks’.
And as soon as Marguerite was finished, he could start looking for some stuff for himself, perhaps asking Mephistopheles for an advance on his reward, if need be.
Fortune was in consultation - her eyes dwelt with demure humour on Mephistopheles in a black tail coat - but he said he couldn't give a message, it was very urgent.
Mephistopheles said, and then desisted, for Polly, the serving girl, had arrived with the orlotan pies, which were actually made of sparrows, the wheaten bread, which turned out to be oaten, and the Malmsey, which was no more than vin ordinaire from Bordeaux.