The Devil incarnate
Meaning
The Devil in human form.
Origin
From
Shakespeare's King Henry V, 1598, and Titus Andronicus, 1588:
Henry V - Boy: Yes,
that a' did; and said they were devils
incarnate.
Titus Andronicus - LUCIUS: O worthy
Goth, this is the incarnate devil
That robb'd Andronicus of his good hand;
This is the pearl that pleased your empress' eye,
And here's the base fruit
of his burning lust.
Say, wall-eyed slave, whither wouldst thou convey
This growing image of thy fiend-like face?
Why dost not speak? what, deaf?
not a word?
A halter, soldiers! hang him on this tree.
And by his side
his fruit of bastardy.
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