demon

de·mon

noun \ˈdē-mən\

Definition of DEMON

1

a : an evil spirit

b : a source or agent of evil, harm, distress, or ruin

2

usually daemon : an attendant power or spirit : genius

3

usually daemon : a supernatural being of Greek mythology intermediate between gods and men

4

: one that has exceptional enthusiasm, drive, or effectiveness <a demon for work>

— de·mo·ni·an \di-ˈmō-nē-ən\ adjective

— de·mon·i·za·tion \ˌdē-mə-nə-ˈzā-shən\ noun

— de·mon·ize \ˈdē-mə-ˌnīz\ transitive verb

Variants of DEMON

de·mon or dae·mon \ˈdē-mən\

Examples of DEMON

1. <only in rare cases is the ancient rite of exorcism performed to cast out a troublesome demon>
2. <a man who was finally able to conquer his demons and kick his drug habit>

Origin of DEMON

Middle English demon, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin daemon evil spirit, from Latin, divinity, spirit, from Greek daimōn, probably from daiesthai to distribute — more at tide

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to DEMON

Synonyms

cacodemon, devil, fiend, ghost, ghoul, ghoulie, imp, shaitan

Related Words

hag [archaic], lamia, vampire; incubus, nightmare, succubus; afreet (or afrit), genie, jinni (or jinn also djinni or djinn); apparition, banshee, bogey (also bogie or bogy), bugbear, familiar, familiar spirit, genius, phantasm (also fantasm), phantom, poltergeist, shade, shadow, specter (or spectre), spirit, spook, vision, wraith; brownie, dwarf, elf, faerie (also faery), fairy, fay, gnome, goblin, gremlin, hobgoblin, kobold, leprechaun, pixie (also pixy), puck, sprite, troll; monster, ogre

Near Antonyms

angel

Other Occult Terms

augury, censor, invocation, lucidity, metempsychosis, mojo, numinous, preternatural, weird, wraith

demon

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In religions worldwide, any of various evil spirits that mediate between the supernatural and human realms. The term comes from the Greek word daimon, a divine or semidivine power that determined a person's fate. Zoroastrianism had a hierarchy of demons, which were in constant battle with Ahura Mazda. In Judaism it was believed that demons inhabited desert wastes, ruins, and graves and inflicted physical and spiritual disorders on humankind. Christianity placed Satan or Beelzebub at the head of the ranks of demons, and Islam designated Iblis or Satan as the leader of a host of evil jinn. Hinduism has many demons, called asuras, who oppose the devas (gods). In Buddhism demons are seen as tempters who prevent the achievement of nirvana.

Variants of DEMON

demon or daemon