king devil
C1/C2Specialized, literary, regional, somewhat archaic.
Definition
Meaning
A common name for certain tall, weedy plant species, particularly hawkweeds (Hieracium) and other similar wildflowers, often considered invasive and troublesome in pastures or cultivated land.
Metaphorically, a person or thing seen as the worst or most prominent source of trouble, evil, or domination in a particular context (e.g., 'the king devil of office politics').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a botanical/common name with strong pejorative connotations. The literal meaning is more concrete; the metaphorical use is an extension, drawing on the sense of being a supreme or arch-nuisance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is slightly more documented in North American botanical/agricultural contexts for invasive plants, but overall is rare in both varieties. No major spelling or form differences.
Connotations
In both, the literal sense carries agricultural/naturalist connotations. The metaphorical sense is creative and stylistically marked, implying a personified, supreme pest.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general use. Likely encountered in regional speech, older botanical texts, or as a deliberate literary/figurative coinage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject: Plant] + is + called/labeled + king devil[Subject: Person/Entity] + is + the king devil + of + [Domain]to battle/defeat + the king devilVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “play the king devil (to act as the supreme troublemaker)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly metaphorical: 'The outdated software is the king devil of our inefficiency.'
Academic
Found in botanical, ecological, or agricultural papers discussing invasive species.
Everyday
Virtually never used. A gardener or farmer might use it regionally.
Technical
A common name in plant taxonomy/field guides for specific Hieracium species.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The farmer spent all day digging out the king devil from his pasture.
- In the guide, it's listed as 'king devil, Hieracium pratense'.
American English
- The king devil has taken over the entire meadow.
- They identified the yellow-flowered invasive as orange king devil.
adverb
British English
- N/A (not used as adverb).
American English
- N/A (not used as adverb).
adjective
British English
- N/A (not used as adjective).
American English
- N/A (not used as adjective).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This yellow flower is called king devil. (in a simple picture book caption)
- The king devil is a weed that farmers do not like.
- Can you see the king devil plants in the field?
- Despite its bright flowers, the king devil is considered an invasive species that chokes out native grasses.
- The old gardener pointed to the tall weed, calling it the 'king devil' of his vegetable patch.
- Botanists are concerned about the spread of orange king devil, which aggressively colonizes disturbed soils.
- In the corporate landscape, he was the undisputed king devil of bureaucratic obstruction, stifling every innovative proposal.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a small, yellow-flowered weed wearing a tiny crown and holding a pitchfork—it's the KING of all DEVILish weeds in the field.
Conceptual Metaphor
A NUISANCE/EVIL IS A HIERARCHICAL ENTITY (with a 'king' at the top).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation 'король дьявол', which would imply a literal ruler of demons. The term refers to a plant or a metaphorical arch-pest.
- Do not confuse with 'kingpin' or 'archfiend', which are used for people in criminal/evil contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a general insult without the contextual 'of' (e.g., 'He's a king devil' is odd; 'He's the king devil of gossips' works).
- Capitalising it as a proper name unless at the start of a sentence or in a botanical list.
- Assuming it refers to a person in its primary sense.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'king devil' MOST likely to be used literally?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency term. It is primarily a specific common name for certain plants and is rarely used in everyday conversation.
Yes, but it is a creative, metaphorical extension. It would be understood as a vivid metaphor meaning 'the worst or most dominant troublemaker' in a given situation (e.g., 'the king devil of the playground').
'Devil' is a general term for an evil spirit or a mischievous person. 'King devil' specifies a supreme or archetypal one, either in the context of weeds or, metaphorically, of nuisances.
Yes, it is a common name applied to several species of hawkweed (Hieracium), particularly the orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum) and yellow hawkweeds, known for their invasive nature in fields and lawns.