Mephistopheles

Also Me·phis·to

[mef-uh-stof-uh-leez]

noun

1. Medieval Demonology.,  one of the seven chief devils and the tempter of Faust.

Mephistopheles

/ ˌmɛfɪˈstɒfɪˌliːz, ˌmɛfɪstəˈfiːlɪən, məˈfɪstəʊ /

noun

1. a devil in medieval mythology and the one to whom Faust sold his soul in the Faust legend

Mephistopheles

1. In the drama Faust by Goethe, a devil who tempts Faust into selling his soul to the powers of darkness. Mephistopheles also appears, with his name spelled Mephistophilis, in the sixteenth-century English play Doctor Faustus, by Christopher Marlowe.

Other Word Forms

• Mephistophelian adjective
• Mephistophelean adjective

Example Sentences

But the old stories of the magicians and their bargains, of Faust and his Mephistopheles, suggest that we would be wise to fear apparent obedience as well.

From Seattle Times

Parker was Presley’s manager for most of his career, and Hanks portrays him as part small-time grifter, part full-blown Mephistopheles.

From New York Times

Every Czech family’s photo album has the requisite picture of a wide-eyed, screaming child who absolutely lost it when Mom and Dad rolled out the welcome mat for Mephistopheles.

From Washington Post

Fledgling designers ca n not afford to hire big venues for tiny audiences or risk a last-minute cancellation, said Stephane Vienne, from production and press firm Mephistopheles.

From Reuters

Höfgen’s most acclaimed role — and yes, he’s talented — is as the demon Mephistopheles in Goethe’s “Faust,” who persuades the hero to sell his soul in return for worldly wealth, status and pleasure.

From New York Times

Related Words

• barbarian 
• ogre