Mephistopheles etymology

Etymology

• From Late Latin Mephistopheles, from Greek Mēphostophílēs, a name appearing in the works of the Greek philosopher Theodore of Mopsuestia, who described Mēphostophílēs as a demon of slander, destruction, and falsehood.
• The name is thought to be derived from the Greek words mēphō ("I deny") and philēs ("lover"), suggesting a figure who "denies love" or "loves to deny."

Meaning

• Literally, "denier of love" or "lover of falsehood"
• In literature and mythology, Mephistopheles is a demonic figure who represents temptation, evil, and the forces of darkness.

Origin

• The figure of Mephistopheles first appears in the late 15th-century German play Faustbuch ("Faust Book").
• In Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's famous play Faust (1808), Mephistopheles is a cunning and seductive demon who offers Faust power and knowledge in exchange for his soul.
• The name became widely known through Goethe's play and has since been used in various works of literature, art, and music to represent the demonic or evil aspect of human nature.

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