Word of the day: Diablerie

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Diablerie

[di-AH-blə-ree]

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, 17th century

1.Reckless mischief; charismatic wildness.

2.(Archaic) Sorcery supposedly assisted by the devil.

Examples of diablerie in a sentence

"Hair metal bands of the 1980s, such as Mötley Crüe, were known as much for their diablerie as for their hit records."

"The director only wants serious professionals for this project and will accept no diablerie on set."

About Diablerie

“Diablerie” is taken from the French “diablerie,” meaning “devilry” or “the behavior of the devil” (“diable” in French).

Did you Know?

“Diablerie” is the French translation of “devilry,” and as such, it describes reckless mischief above all. However, one specific characteristic of “diablerie” is that it reflects a charismatic sort of wildness. Diablerie is often harder to dismiss than simple misbehavior because the charm of the mischievous person makes it difficult to be angry at them. Fans of many reckless artists — musicians, painters, actors, and writers alike — have often interpreted their diablerie as intimately connected with the brilliance of their art.