deva
Americannoun
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Hinduism, Buddhism. a god or divinity.
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Zoroastrianism. one of an order of evil spirits.
noun
Etymology
Origin of deva
From Sanskrit
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In Buddhism, matchmaking parents—sponsors—of a prospective couple are encouraged to consult an astrologist and, if unsuccessful, are urged to query an inner-world deva.
From The New Yorker ● Mar. 4, 2019
Ahura becomes the god par excellence, the supreme god; while "deva," the title which in India remained in honour, is in the Avesta that of evil gods who are not to be worshipped.
From History of Religion A Sketch of Primitive Religious Beliefs and Practices, and of the Origin and Character of the Great Systems by Allan Menzies
The deva, having heard the words of the Blessed One, was full of exceeding joy.
From The Gospel of Buddha Compiled from Ancient Records by Paul Carus by Paul Carus
Their holy day was, as the holy day of Christendom still is, Sunday, day of the Sun, an expression that comes from the Norse, on whom also shone the light of the Aryan deva.
From The Lords of the Ghostland A History of the Ideal by Edgar Saltus
On the other hand, in the gradual change in India of Iranic gods to devils, asuras, there is an exact counterpart to the Iranian change of meaning from deva to daeva.
From The Religions of India Handbooks on the History of Religions, Volume 1, Edited by Morris Jastrow by Edward Washburn Hopkins
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