The Meaning of Lucifer: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of Lucifer? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word Lucifer, including its definition, usage, word origin, and more!

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What does the word Lucifer mean?

According to Dictionary and History, as well as the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the word Lucifer refers to the angelic being, the rebellious archangel identified with Satan who fell from the heavens in Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions and teachings. He is also known as The Devil, and is the personification of evil, as well as the nemesis of the good. He is an adversary of God, the master of Hell, the chief spirit of evil, prince of darkness, and a tempter of mankind.. While his image and story have evolved to have many different forms and physical descriptions, some with horns and hooved feet, Lucifer is the antithesis of good. Lucifer has three syllables – Lu-ci-fer, and the pronunciation of Lucifer is loo-suh-fer. He has also been referred to in Ancient Greek as “morning star” or “shining one.” It is interesting that the word Jesus is also sometimes translated as “the bright morning star.” The word Lucifer literally means daystar, or day star.

Lucifer is best known in Christianity and Christian tradition, as the devil who has great pride in thinking he is above the stars of God which causes his fall from heaven, the most high punishment. He is thrown from the throne to the depths of the pit. Lucifer is illustrated in Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. The term has also been used in Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, Joost van den Vondel’s Lucifer, and John Milton’s Paradise Lost. In Judaism, one may see Lucifer represented by the Hebrew word helel, which means light-bearer. Lucifer is mentioned in many different books of the Bible, including Luke, Ezekiel, and Genesis. In Genesis, he causes Eve to fall from grace in the Garden of Eden. This also happens to the king of Tyre. 

Lucifer is also seen in a number of Hollywood films. Some prime examples include Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson and Vincent Price, all who have played the devil, as well as the horror film Rosemary’s Baby in which Mia Farrow’s character gives birth to the son of Lucifer. Over the years, the reputation of the devil, Lucifer, and Satan as a doer of evil has not changed too much. Most Christians still believe he is responsible for the world’s corruption and chaos. 

The word lucifer also refers to a friction match from England that contained cardboard, a combustible chemical, and a lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood. Many different languages also use words for Lucifer, Satan, and the Devil. These are listed below, from Word Sense.

  • Japanese: 悪魔‎ (あくま, akuma), サタン‎ (satan)
  • Greek: Διάβολος‎ (masc.)
  • Tzotzil: pukuj‎
  • Finnish: saatana‎, Paholainen‎, perkele‎, sielunvihollinen‎
  • Mandarin: 魔王‎ (mówáng)
  • Maltese: xitan‎ (masc.)
  • Macedonian: ѓавол‎ (masc.), са́тана‎ (fem.)
  • Luxembourgish: Däiwel‎ (masc.), Satan‎ (masc.)
  • French: Diable‎ (masc.), Satan‎ (masc.)
  • Icelandic: djöfullinn‎ (masc.), andskotinn‎ (masc.), fjandinn‎ (masc.), skrattinn‎ (masc.), kölski‎ (masc.), fjárinn‎ (masc.), satan‎ (masc.)
  • Irish: diabhal‎ (masc.)
  • German: Teufel‎ (masc.), Satan‎ (masc.)
  • Romanian: diavol‎, satan‎
  • German Low German: Düvel‎ (masc.)
  • Khmer: សាតាំង‎
  • Volapük: diab‎, (obsolete) devel‎, el satanas‎
  • Polish: diabeł‎ (masc.), szatan‎ (masc.)
  • Old Church Slavonic: Дїаволъ‎
  • Portuguese: Diabo‎ (masc.), Satã‎ (masc.), Satanás‎ (masc.)
  • Esperanto: Diablo‎, Satano‎
  • Swedish: Djävulen‎ (common), Satan‎ (common), Hin håle‎
  • Czech: satan‎ (masc.), ďábel‎ (masc.)
  • Marathi: शैतान‎
  • Korean: 악마‎
  • Danish: djævlen‎, fanden‎, satan‎
  • Cyrillic: враг‎ (masc.)
  • Hebrew: שָׂטָן‎
  • Hebrew: סטנא‎
  • Bulgarian: сатана‎
  • Roman: vrag‎ (masc.)
  • Lithuanian: šėtonas‎ (masc.)
  • Syriac: ܣܛܢܐ‎
  • Dutch: duivel‎
  • Italian: diavolo‎
  • Low German: Düwel‎
  • Yiddish: טײַוול‎ (masc.), שׂטן‎
  • Spanish: diablo‎ (masc.)
  • Russian: дья́вол‎ (masc.)
  • Persian: اهریمن‎ (ahriman)

What are synonyms and antonyms for the word Lucifer?

There are many different words that one can use in place of the word Lucifer. Synonyms, which are words that have the same definition as other words or phrases, are very useful if you are looking to expand your vocabulary or avoid repeating yourself. This list of synonyms for the word Lucifer is provided by Thesaurus

  •  devil
  •  satan
  •  diablo
  •  Mephistopheles
  •  fallen angel
  •  Beelzebub
  •  archangel
  •  beast
  •  evil one
  •  Prince of Darkness

There are also a great many words that mean the opposite of the word Lucifer. These are called antonyms, and are useful to know, especially if you tend to negate words rather than simply using words that are the opposite of given words or phrases. This list of antonyms for Lucifer is also provided by Thesaurus.

  •  numen
  •  lord
  •  divinity
  •  master
  •  world spirit
  •  providence
  •  Divine Being
  •  idol
  •  King of Kings
  •  Holy Spirit
  •  maker
  •  infinite spirit
  •  Allah
  •  All Powerful
  •  Yahweh
  •  universal life force
  •  father
  •  soul
  •  holiness
  •  Jehovah
  •  tutelary
  •  totem
  •  creator
  •  All Knowing
  •  almighty
  •  God
  •  omnipotent
  •  power
  •  spirit
  •  prime mover
  •  demigod
  •  deity
  •  daemon
  •  demon
  •  Jah
  •  Absolute Being

What is the origin of the word Lucifer?

According to Etymonline, the word Lucifer comes from the Middle English and Old English Lucifer meaning Satan, as well as referring to Venus in the morning Eastern sky before sunrise or dawn. This is also an epithet or name for Diana. The word Lucifer comes from the Latin lūcifer meaning light-bringer or the son of the morning, and Latin lūx and lūc, the genitive of the Latin word lucis meaning light. These come from the Proto-Indo-European roots lauk meaning light or brightness, as well as the root ferre meaning to carry or bear. 

Overall, the word Lucifer refers to the Devil or Satan. This word is seen most frequently in Judeo-Christian theology to refer to the fallen archangel punished for his rebellious pride.

Sources:

  1. The Devil: Origin, Bible, Lucifer | HISTORY
  2.  Lucifer | Definition of Lucifer | Dictionary.com 
  3. lucifer | Origin and meaning of the name lucifer | Online Etymology Dictionary 
  4. LUCIFER Synonyms: 9 Synonyms & Antonyms for LUCIFER | Thesaurus 
  5. GOD Synonyms: 35 Synonyms & Antonyms for GOD | Thesaurus 
  6. Lucifer: meaning, origin, translation | Word Sense