Mephistopheles \Meph*is*toph"e*les\
(m[e^]f*[i^]s*tof"[-e]*l[=e]z) [Written Mephostophilus in
Shakespeare, Fletcher etc., Mephostophilis in Marlowe, but
now generally Mephistopheles, as in Goethe: a made-up name,
like most of the names of the medieval devils, but supposed
by some to be formed (irregularly) from Gr. mh`, not, fw^s
(fwt-), light, and fi`los, loving.]
A familiar spirit mentioned in the old legend of Sir John
Faustus, and a principal agent in Marlowe's play Dr. Faustus
and in Goethe's Faust. In medieval demonology, he was one of
the seven chief devils.
[Century Dictionary 1906]
He is frequently referred to as "the Devil," but it was
well understood that he was only a devil. Goethe took
only the name and a few circumstances connected with
the first appearance of Mephistopheles from the legend:
the character, from first to last, is his own creation;
and, in his own words, "on account of the irony and
knowledge of the world it displays, is not easily
comprehended." Although he sometimes slyly used it
(though less frequently than Faust) as a mask through
which to speak with his own voice, he evidently drew
the germ of some characteristics from his early
associate, Merck. . . . The original form of this name
was Mephostophiles. There has been much discussion in
regard to its meaning, but D["u]ntzen's conjecture is
probably correct, -- that it was imperfectly formed by
some one who knew little Greek, and was intended to
signify "not loving the light." --B. Taylor,
Notes to
Faust.
[Century Dictionary 1906] Mephitic
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