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

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Occult Terms

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