proper name of the supreme evil spirit in Christianity, Old English Satan, from Late Latin Satan (in Vulgate in Old Testament only), from Greek Satanas, from Hebrew satan "adversary, one who plots against another," from satan "to show enmity to, oppose, plot against," from root s-t-n "one who opposes, obstructs, or acts as an adversary."
In Septuagint (Greek) usually translated as diabolos "slanderer," literally "one who throws (something) across" the path of another (see devil (n.)), though epiboulos "plotter" is used once.
In biblical sources the Hebrew term the satan describes an adversarial role. It is not the name of a particular character. Although Hebrew storytellers as early as the sixth century B.C.E. occasionally introduced a supernatural character whom they called the satan, what they meant was any one of the angels sent by God for the specific purpose of blocking or obstructing human activity. [Elaine Pagels, "The Origin of Satan," 1995]
双语例句
1. In Milton's poem, Satan, even after his fall, dimly reflects his former glory.
在弥尔顿的诗中, 撒旦即便失败后, 也能依稀显出昔日的荣光.
来自《简明英汉词典》
2. The name of Satan himself did not frighten her half so much.
连撒旦本人也不会像他这样叫人害怕呢!
来自飘（部分）
3. Call in Beelzebub to cast out Satan.
叫魔王赶撒旦;召鬼驱鬼.
来自辞典例句
4. But what distinguished the physician's ecstasy from Satan's was the trait of wonder in it!
不过,那医生的狂喜同撒旦的区别在于,其中尚有惊奇的成分!
来自英汉文学 - 红字
5. Satan dropped it there, I take it, intending a scurrilous jest against your reverence.
