MW→a lot

a lot

EnglishMerriam-Webster Dictionary

n'>

Examples

//the police quickly mobilized to track down the diabolical criminals before they struck again

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology

diabolical from diabolic + -ical; diabolic going back to Middle English deabolik, borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French dyabolique, borrowed from Late Latin diabolicus, borrowed from Late Greek diabolikós, going back to Greek, "slanderous," from diábolos "accuser, backbiter, slanderer" + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at devil entry 1

diabolical

adjective

variants: or diabolic

Synonyms & Antonyms

of, relating to, or worthy of an evil spirit //the police quickly mobilized to track down the diabolical criminals before they struck again
Synonyms

cacodemonic demoniac (also demoniacal) demonian demonic (also demonical) devilish fiendish Luciferian satanic
Related Words

hellish infernal
baleful evil sinister
malevolent malicious malignant
heinous monstrous
immoral iniquitous nefarious vicious vile villainous wicked
barbarous cruel ferocious inhuman savage
Near Antonyms

celestial heavenly
beneficent benevolent benign benignant
godly holy sainted saintly
ethical good moral righteous virtuous
Antonyms

angelic (or angelical)

diagnose

verb

di·ag·nose

ˈdī-ig-ˌnōs -ˌnōz ˌdī-ig-ˈnōs -ˈnōz -əg-

diagnosed; diagnosing

Definition

transitive verb
to recognize (something, such as a disease) by signs and symptoms //The other method of diagnosing gallstones is through an ultrasound examination, which has the advantages of being simple, safe and quick. — G. Timothy Johnson //Pulmonary embolus was diagnosed in two of the actively treated patients … — Richard D. Sautter et al.
to recognize a disease or condition in //The physicist and cosmologist was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease when he was a 21-year-old student at Cambridge University. — Maria Cheng
to analyze the cause or nature of //The mechanic diagnosed the problem with the engine.
intransitive verb
to identify a disease from its signs and symptoms to make a diagnosis

Other Words

diagnosable or diagnoseable ˌdī-ig-ˈnō-sə-bəl -əg- -zə- adjective

Examples

//The test is used to help in diagnosing heart disease.
//Thousands of new cases have been diagnosed in the past year.
//The doctor was unable to diagnose the skin condition.
//a new doctor with little experience diagnosing patients
//The mechanic was unable to diagnose the problem.

First Known Use

circa 1841, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

History and Etymology

back-formation from diagnosis

diagnose

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms

to find out or establish the identity of //Experts have introduced new technology for diagnosing certain types of cancer in their early stages.
Synonyms & Near Synonyms

distinguish finger ID identify pinpoint single (out)
determine find
locate pick out place recognize spot
assess check evaluate examine inspect investigate notice observe scrutinize
certify confirm corroborate substantiate support validate verify
anatomize assay break down cut deconstruct dissect
Antonyms & Near Antonyms

misdiagnose overdiagnose underdiagnose
camouflage conceal disguise hide

dictate

verb

dic·tate

ˈdik-ˌtāt dik-ˈtāt

dictated; dictating

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb
to utter words to be transcribed to give dictation //dictate for the stenographer
to speak or act domineeringly prescribe //resents being dictated to
transitive verb
to speak or read for a person to transcribe or for a machine to record //dictating a letter to her assistant
to issue as an order
to impose, pronounce, or specify authoritatively //dictate the terms of surrender //… the league will dictate policy for all teams … — Alex Yannis
to require or determine necessarily //The team's injuries dictated the choice of players. //The weather will dictate how long we stay.

noun

dic·tate

ˈdik-ˌtāt

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

an authoritative rule, pre