Satanic, a.
(səˈtænɪk)
[f. Satan + -ic. Cf. eccl. Gr. σατανικός, F. satanique (16th c.), Sp. satánico, Pg., It. satanico.]
1. Of or pertaining to Satan.
| 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 392 The faint Satanic Host. 1839 Lane Arab. Nts. I. 66 Satanic magic, as its name implies, is a science depending on the agency of the Devil and the inferior evil Jinn. 1881 J. Grant Cameronians I. ii. 23 Two large yellow rings..drawn by the sword of an evil Montgomerie, who had trafficked in Satanic influence. 1896 Waite Devil-Worship in France 119 The Grand Master seized one of the fakirs and cut his throat upon the altar, chanting the satanic liturgy amidst imprecations, curses [etc.]. |
2. (Freq. with lower-case initial.) Characteristic of or befitting Satan; extremely wicked, diabolical, devilish, infernal.
| 1793 Holcroft tr. Lavater's Physiog. xxix. 142 A criminal..who with satanic wickedness had murdered his benefactor. 1804 Ann. Rev. II. 196/2 The satanic art of destroying the fetus in the womb. 1817 Coleridge Biog. Lit. xxiii. (1907) II. 199 Count Bertram..avows with open atrocity, his Satanic hatred of Imogine's Lord. 1878 J. E. Jenkins Haverholme 79 With an ingenuity almost satanic. |
3. Satanic school: Southey's designation for Byron, Shelley, and their imitators; subsequently often applied to other writers similarly accused of defiant impiety and delight in the portraiture of lawless passion.
| 1821 Southey Vis. Judgement Pref. iii. 21 Men of diseased hearts and depraved imaginations..hating that revealed religion which..they are unable utterly to disbelieve... The school which they have set up may properly be called the Satanic school; for..their productions..are more especially characterized by a Satanic spirit of pride and audacious impiety. 1831 Carlyle Sart. Res. ii. vi, Teufelsdröckh..had only one of three things which he can next do: Establish himself in Bedlam; begin writing Satanic Poetry; or blow-out his brains. 1843 ― Past & Pr. ii. xvii, Satanic-school, Cockney-school, and other Literatures. |
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▸ satanic abuse n. sexual abuse (esp. of children), killing, or violence alleged to be committed as part of satanic worship rituals; cf. ritual abuse n. at ritual adj. and n. Additions.
| 1987 Washington Post 22 Feb. (Mag. section) 7/3 Oprah: *Satanic Abuse. 1990 Social Work Today 10 May 5/2 Despite increasing evidence at child care conferences that satanic abuse existed, there was a lack of overall co-ordination. 2001 Hull Daily Mail (Nexis) 11 Aug. 13 The story unfolds as Banks and his team find links to two murders and consider satanic abuse as a motive for the abduction. |