Mephistopheles
Faustian deal broker
Mephistopheles is a demon from German folklore who appears in the Faust legend as the devil's agent, offering knowledge and power in exchange for the scholar's soul.
The name has become synonymous with a tempter or devil figure—someone cunning, sardonic, and morally corrupting.
A Mephistophelean bargain trades something essential for short-term gain: He made a Mephistophelean deal with the tabloids.
Judeo-Christian arch-enemy of God
- LuciferRebellious angel of Christian theology
- BeelzebubPrince of demons
- demonMalevolent supernatural being
- fiendCruel person or enthusiast
hell · inferno · fallen angel · Prince of Darkness · archfiend · underworld · Hades · diabolical
Legendary deal-with-devil maker
- pactFormal agreement between parties
- bargainFavorable purchase price
- soulInnermost animating essence
- damnationEternal punishment decree
redemption · Gretchen · Wagner · scholar · knowledge · ambition · tragedy · alchemy
Enticing someone romantically
- allureAttractive, tempting quality
- enticementSomething that attracts
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- lureThing that tempts
persuasion · bargain · desire · forbidden · pleasure · indulgence · charm · coaxing
Scriptural marine serpent
- LilithFemale demon of folklore
- BaphometGoat-headed occult symbol
- LegionRoman army division
- infernalOf the underworld
hierarchy · summoning · grimoire · demonology · hellspawn
German poet-dramatist, 1749-1832
- dramaTheatrical art or turmoil
- literatureBody of written works
- GermanCentral European language
- classicOf lasting excellence
romanticism · enlightenment · Weimar · tragedy · philosophy · Lord · angels · classical
Intentional misleading of others
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
artifice · duplicity · craftiness · wile · misdirection · ruse · scheming · sardonic
- Doctor FaustusPlay about eternal bargain
- MannGerman surname meaning male
- operaticOf staged musical drama
- stageRaised performance platform
Thomas Mann · Berlioz · adaptation · devil figure · tragic · Elizabethan · Renaissance · archetype
Satan
Judeo-Christian arch-enemy of God
- LuciferRebellious angel of Christian theology
- BeelzebubPrince of demons
- demonMalevolent supernatural being
fiend · hell · inferno · fallen angel · Prince of Darkness · archfiend · underworld · Hades · diabolical · hellfire
Faust
Legendary deal-with-devil maker
damnation · redemption · Gretchen · Wagner · scholar · knowledge · ambition · tragedy · alchemy · eternal
seduction
Enticing someone romantically
- allureAttractive, tempting quality
- enticementSomething that attracts
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
lure · persuasion · bargain · desire · forbidden · pleasure · indulgence · charm · coaxing · manipulation
Leviathan
Scriptural marine serpent
infernal · hierarchy · summoning · grimoire · demonology · hellspawn
Goethe
German poet-dramatist, 1749-1832
- dramaTheatrical art or turmoil
- literatureBody of written works
- GermanCentral European language
classic · romanticism · enlightenment · Weimar · tragedy · philosophy · Lord · angels · classical · verse
deception
Intentional misleading of others
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
subterfuge · artifice · duplicity · craftiness · wile · misdirection · ruse · scheming · sardonic · irony
Marlowe
- Doctor FaustusPlay about eternal bargain
- MannGerman surname meaning male
- operaticOf staged musical drama
Thomas Mann · Berlioz · stage · adaptation · devil figure · tragic · Elizabethan · Renaissance · archetype · trickster