devilry

/ˈdɛv.əl.ɹi/

//ˈdɛv.əl.ɹi// noun

"devilry" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“devilry” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Mischief.

Corpus desk

Index EN-devilry · devilry · English

devilry · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "D" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for devilry
PropertyValue
Headworddevilry
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈdɛv.əl.ɹi/
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “devilry” in English

devilryranks outside the top 100,000 English headwords, in the long tail of specialist, archaic, or seldom-used vocabulary, exactly the territory where a reader stops mid-sentence to double-check spelling.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

devilry is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈdɛv.əl.ɹi/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for devilry, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English develrye; equivalent to devil + -ry. The correct English form is devilry, spelled D-E-V-I-L-R-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Mischief.
  2. 2
    Wickedness; cruelty.
  3. 3
    An action performed with the help of a devil; witchcraft.
  4. 4
    An act of such mischief, wickedness, cruelty, or witchcraft.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how devilry appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Their newfound devilry : prank-calling local businesses.
  2. "The Master's Society wishes to overturn the world order into his hands by devilry and chaos. There is good news that Mr. Stevens is repentant and under our employ and gave us a significant store of antidote for the violent toxin. We can dose the MPs."

Etymology

From Middle English develrye; equivalent to devil + -ry.

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "devilry"?
"devilry" is spelled D-E-V-I-L-R-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdɛv.əl.ɹi/.
What does "devilry" mean?
As a noun, "devilry" means: Mischief.
How do you pronounce "devilry"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "devilry" is /ˈdɛv.əl.ɹi/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "devilry"?
From Middle English develrye; equivalent to devil + -ry. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list