bedevil

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Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.

Proto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.

Proto-Indo-European *h₁épider.

Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi

Proto-Germanic *bider.

Proto-Germanic *bi-

Proto-West Germanic *bi-

Old English be-

Middle English bi-

English be-

Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁

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Proto-Indo-European *trísinflu.

Proto-Indo-European *dwísder.

Ancient Greek διά (diá)

Ancient Greek δια- (dia-)

Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der.

Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō

Ancient Greek βάλλω (bállō)

Ancient Greek διαβάλλω (diabállō)

Ancient Greek διάβολος (diábolos)bor.

Latin diabolusbor.

Proto-West Germanic *diubul

Old English dēofol

Middle English devel

English devil

English bedevil

From be- + devil.

To harass or cause trouble for; to plague. Guerrilla attacks continued to bedevil the larger army's supply routes.
To perplex or bewilder.
To possess (someone's mind).