demon en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈdiː.mən/
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
From Middle English demon, a borrowing from Medieval Latin dēmōn, daemōn (“lar, familiar spirit, guardian spirit”), from Ancient Greek δαίμων (daímōn, “dispenser, god, protective spirit”). Displaced native Old English sċucca (“evil spirit”) and Old English þyrs (“ogre or monster”). Doublet of daimon.
Meanings
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An evil supernatural being. ▸ An evil being resident in or working for Hell; a devil.
So what does the Gospel of Judas really say? It says that Judas is a specific demon called the "Thirteenth." In certain Gnostic traditions, this is the given name of the king of demons - an entity known as Ialdabaoth who lives in the 13th realm above the earth. Judas is his human alter ego, his undercover agent in the world. These Gnostics equated Ialdabaoth with the Hebrew Yahweh, whom they saw as a jealous and wrathful deity and an opponent of the supreme God whom Jesus came to earth to reveal. Whoever wrote the Gospel of Judas was a harsh critic of mainstream Christianity and its rituals. Because Judas is a demon working for Ialdabaoth, the author believed, when Judas sacrifices Jesus he does so to the demons, not to the supreme God. This mocks mainstream Christians' belief in the atoning value of Jesus' death and in the effectiveness of the Eucharist.
2007 December 2, April D. DeConick, “What the Gospel of Judas really says”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 23 Nov 2011, Essay:
- (historical) An evil supernatural being. ▸ A false god or idol; a Satanic divinity.
- (broadly, figuratively) An evil supernatural being. ▸ A very wicked or malevolent person; also (in weakened sense) a mischievous person, especially a child.
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An evil supernatural being. ▸ A source (especially personified) of great evil or wickedness; a destructive feeling or character flaw.
The demon of stupidity haunts me whenever I open my mouth.
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(in-plural) An evil supernatural being. ▸ A person's fears or anxieties.
After a short spell on an adult psychiatric ward, she decided to find her own way to deal with her demons.
2013 January 21, The Guardian:
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A neutral supernatural being. ▸ A person's inner spirit or genius; a guiding or creative impulse.
“You saw her. And I picked her up,” Lyra said, blushing, because of course it was a gross violation of manners to touch something so private as someone else's dæmon.
2000, Phillip Pullman, The Amber Spyglass:Oh Anthony […] Thy Dæmon that thy spirit which keepes thee, is Noble, Couragious, high vnmatchable.
c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
- (Greek) A neutral supernatural being. ▸ A tutelary deity or spirit intermediate between the major Olympian gods and mankind, especially a deified hero or the entity which supposedly guided Socrates, telling him what not to do.
- A neutral supernatural being. ▸ A supernatural being not considered to be inherently evil; a (non-Christian) deity.
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A neutral supernatural being. ▸ A hypothetical entity with special abilities postulated for the sake of a thought experiment in philosophy or physics.
Let the orders now be that each demon is to stop all molecules from crossing his area in either direction except 100 coming from A, arbitrarily chosen to be let pass into B, and a greater number, having among them less energy but equal momentum, to cross from B to A.
1874, William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, “Kinetic Theory of the Dissipation of Energy” in Nature 9, 441-444
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Someone with great strength, passion or skill for a particular activity, pursuit etc.; an enthusiast.
Chelsea defended like demons to snuff out Manchester City but this was a perfectly calibrated triumph, built upon a structured attacking approach, choosing the right moments to transition, and illuminated by the smoothness of Havertz’s technique.
2021 May 29, David Hytner, “Chelsea win Champions League after Kai Havertz stuns Manchester City”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 28 Aug 2021:He’s a demon at the card tables.
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A type of patience or solitaire (card game) played in the UK and/or US.
‘That's much the best feeling to have.’ She dealt out the first row of ‘demon’.
1924, EM Forster, A Passage to India, Penguin, published 2005, page 89:
- Any of various hesperiid butterflies of the genera Notocrypta and Udaspes.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| demons | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| daemon | alternative | lexicographic | |
| daimon | alternative | lexicographic | |
| dæmon | alternative | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
demon-hunter · demon duck of doom · demonless · demonography · demon catshark · demonlore · demonship · demonolatory · restricted demon · demon dialing · demonise · demonomist · demonspawn · bedemon · half-demon · semen demon · demonish · dedemonization · speed demon · demonagogue · demonical · demonist · demon hunter · demonslayer · like a demon · demonocracy · demonkind · demonomachy · demonomaniac · face one's demons · she-demon · demonlike · demonic · Demonrat · demonism · demonopathy · demon core · demonify · demonkin · Laplace's demon · demonomancy · demonology · fur demon · demoness · demon face syndrome · demonize · confront one's demons · demonette · nondemon · demonisation · Demoncrat · nasal demon
Hypernyms
spirit · monster · See Thesaurus:spirit · creature
Hyponyms
werewolf · larva · Fury · loup-garou · Moloch · dragon · nix · Ahriman · succubus · Devil · Satan · lamia · Maxwell's demon (theoretical entity) · succuba · nixie · incubus · Belial · vampire · Titan · harpy
Relateds
half-demon · demonopathy · counterdemonic · demonian · demonolater · speed demon · demoniacal · demonomancy · demonography · demonlore · archdemon · antidemonic · demonkin · demonry · demoniac · demonish · demonify · demonomy · demonomania · demonization · demonomist · Maxwell's demon · demonhood · demonship · demonic · demonianism · demonographer · Demon core · nasal demon · demonocracy · demonolatry · demonical · demoness · demonism · demonkind · demonette · demonically · demonly · demonlike · cacodemon · demonomaniac · demonifuge · demonist · demonology · demonophobia · demon dialing · demoniacally · demonomagy · demonize · eudemon · agathodemon · demonagogue
Synonyms
tutelary deity · barghest · ghoul · kobold · boggard · bogeyman · spook · fiend · evil genius · daeva · flibbertigibbet · cacodemon · devil · goblin · bogle · troll · bogie · imp · genius (neutral being) · nis
Translations (338)
am ጋኔን (evil being) · zdj djini (false god, Satanic divinity) · hu démon (evil being) · lo ຣັກຂະສະ (evil being) · ca diable (evil being) · hi इबलीस (false god, Satanic divinity) · th ปิศาจ (evil being) · ccc sojpayi (evil being) · de Teufel (evil being) · oc demòni (evil being) · sq qipull (evil being) · mi tipua (evil being) · th มาร (false god, Satanic divinity) · az cin (evil being) · zdj djini (evil being) · la daemon (evil being) · nl demoon (evil being) · ang dēofol (evil being) · hi देव (evil being) · ko 요마 (evil being) · sv baddare (person with great energy or skill, enthusiast) · hi असुर (evil being) · el δαίμονας (false god, Satanic divinity) · sa असुर (evil being) · pa ਪਿਸ਼ਾਚ (evil being) · th แทตย์ (evil being) · ro драк (false god, Satanic divinity) · bem icibanda class 7 (evil being) · th ภูต (evil being) · az iblis (evil being) · ast demu (evil being) · vi ma quỷ (evil being) · ny mzímu (evil being) · fa دیو (false god, Satanic divinity) · hi इबलीस (evil being) · ast demoniu (evil being) · sux 𒀉𒉺 (evil being) · lo ອະສຸລະ (evil being) · oj maji-manidoo (evil being) · sk čert (evil being) · tt иблис (evil being) · cmn 邪魔 (evil being) · yi שד (false god, Satanic divinity) · sa राक्षस (false god, Satanic divinity) · mg devoly (evil being) · pl ciort (evil being) · nl duivel (false god, Satanic divinity) · ja 妖魔 (evil being) · dlm demun (evil being) · th เปรต (evil being) · ru бес (evil being) · es dianche (evil being) · km បិសាច (evil being) · ro drac (false god, Satanic divinity) · lb Dämon (evil being) · km ពីង (evil being) · ast democu (evil being) · th ภูติผีปีศาจ (evil being) · hi दैत्य (evil being) · sw pepo (evil being) · bg демон (false god, Satanic divinity) · ulw nâwalh (evil being) · pt demônio (false god, Satanic divinity) · ast demontre (evil being) · th มาห์ (evil being) · sw pepo (false god, Satanic divinity) · ms raksasa (evil being) · nl afgod (false god, Satanic divinity) · th มาร (evil being) · ast demói (evil being) · gl demoño (evil being) · yi נישט־גוטער (evil being) · ti ጋኔን (evil being) · ms iblis (evil being) · bn ইবলিশ (evil being) · kk әзәзіл (evil being) · cu ⰱⱑⱄⱏ (evil being) · ko 악마 (evil being) · tr iblis (evil being) · vi ác quỷ (evil being) · be бес (evil being) · cs čert (evil being) · vi ma quái (evil being) · dz འདྲེ (evil being) · ht dyab (false god, Satanic divinity) · ka დემონი (false god, Satanic divinity) · de Dämon (false god, Satanic divinity) · got 𐌿𐌽𐌷𐌿𐌻𐌸𐌰 (evil being) · dz བདུད (evil being) · it demonio (person with great energy or skill, enthusiast) · ast demorriu (evil being) · ar شيطان (evil being) · tg дев (evil being) · roa-opt demonio (evil being) · tl demonyo (evil being) · it demonio (inner spirit or genius) · fr diable (false god, Satanic divinity) · ug ئىبلىس (evil being) · hi राक्षस (person with great energy or skill, enthusiast) · uz jin (evil being) · hi इब्लीस (evil being) · roa-opt diablo (evil being) · be чорт (evil being) · ast diañu (evil being) · mt mingħul (evil being) · lt demonas (evil being) · es shapshico (evil being) · ast maleñu (evil being) · pl czort (evil being) · ja デーモン (evil being) · sw pepo (inner spirit or genius) · grc δαίμων (evil being) · roa-opt diabre (evil being) · ug جىن (evil being) · ks مُشران (evil being) · ka დემონი (evil being) · ka ავი სული (evil being) · bn শয়তান (evil being) · zlw-ocs dehna (evil being) · km របាល (evil being) · ja 鬼神 (false god, Satanic divinity) · ga deamhan (evil being) · vi quỷ (evil being) · es demonio (evil being) · cu бѣсъ (evil being) · eo demono (evil being) · mww dab (evil being) · ur شیطان (evil being) · tr şeytan (evil being) · cs démon (evil being) · be дэ́ман (evil being) · nn demon (evil being) · kk ібіліс (evil being) · th อสูร (evil being) · tg иблис (evil being) · lo ຍັກ (evil being) · ky шайтан (evil being) · id iblis (false god, Satanic divinity) · mn буг (evil being) · da dæmon (evil being) · ka ეშმაკი (evil being) · fi demoni (evil being) · pt demónio (evil being) · sga demun (evil being) · el δαιμόνιο (false god, Satanic divinity) · pl bies (evil being) · sv demon (evil being) · my နတ်ဆိုး (evil being) · or ଅସୁର (evil being) · bn দৈত্য (evil being) · he שָׂטָן (false god, Satanic divinity) · et deemon (evil being) · la larva (evil being) · ks دؠو (evil being) · ast degorriu (evil being) · ro demon (person with great energy or skill, enthusiast) · ug شەيتان (evil being) · cmn 惡魔 /恶魔 (false god, Satanic divinity) · ast maliñu (evil being) · hi शैतान (evil being) · es mengue (evil being) · grc δαιμόνιον (false god, Satanic divinity) · fi daimoni (evil being) · mn чөтгөр (evil being) · ja 鬼 (person with great energy or skill, enthusiast) · pl demon (evil being) · te రాక్షసుడు (person with great energy or skill, enthusiast) · sq shejtan (evil being) · th ปีศาจร้าย (evil being) · grc δαίμων (false god, Satanic divinity) · nl demon (evil being) · yi שד (evil being) · sga demon (evil being) · it demone (evil being) · ba шайтан (evil being) · tt шайтан (evil being) · roa-opt diaboo (evil being) · pt demónio (false god, Satanic divinity) · fi paholainen (false god, Satanic divinity) · es demonche (evil being) · sw shetani (person with great energy or skill, enthusiast) · sk démon (evil being) · az şeytan (evil being) · mi atua kikokiko (evil being) · ky жин (evil being) · fa ابلیس (evil being) · mi kikokiko (evil being) · ast diañe (evil being) · kk марту (evil being) · lo ປີສາດຮ້າຍ (evil being) · sv demon (false god, Satanic divinity) · fr démon (evil being) · kmr dêw (evil being) · lo ບໍຣະສາດ (evil being) · vi yêu ma (evil being) · ms syaitan (evil being) · lv velns (evil being) · tg шайтон (evil being) · cmn 邪神 (evil being) · lo ສັກສາດ (evil being) · tr demon (evil being) · ast malín (evil being) · mt xitan (evil being) · ast demongriu (evil being) · sh demon (evil being) · sv överdängare (person with great energy or skill, enthusiast) · es demontre (evil being) · ky ибилис (evil being) · ae 𐬛𐬀𐬉𐬎𐬎𐬀 (evil being) · ja 鬼 (evil being) · fa دیو (evil being) · it demonio (evil being) · mi tupua (evil being) · lo ຜີເສື້ອ (evil being) · ccc pac̈hic̈hi (evil being) · sv djävul (false god, Satanic divinity) · ulw tingsuba (evil being) · sa दैत्य (evil being) · ur ابلیس (evil being) · sq djall (evil being) · sh демон (evil being) · ota شیطان (evil being) · ru чёрт (false god, Satanic divinity) · got 𐌿𐌽𐌷𐌿𐌻𐌸𐍉 (evil being) · ru чёрт (evil being) · nrf dêmon (evil being) · tt җен (evil being) · cmn 妖魔 (evil being) · ko 데몬 (evil being) · uk де́мон (evil being) · ru де́мон (evil being) · pt demônio (evil being) · ckb دێو (evil being) · it Demonio (false god, Satanic divinity) · cmn 惡魔 /恶魔 (person with great energy or skill, enthusiast) · mdf демон (evil being) · frp dèmon (evil being) · sat ᱵᱷᱩᱛ (evil being) · lo ຜີ (evil being) · hy դև (evil being) · ist damognio (evil being) · cy cythraul (evil being) · hi दानव (evil being) · yo àǹjànnú (evil being) · yi מזיק (person with great energy or skill, enthusiast) · hi शैतान (false god, Satanic divinity) · jje 악매 (evil being) · ro demon (evil being) · fy koarthakke (evil being) · km ទេត្យ (evil being) · ru шайта́н (evil being) · fa شیطان (false god, Satanic divinity) · ba иблис (evil being) · gl demo (evil being) · sdh دێو (evil being) · bg дявол (person with great energy or skill, enthusiast) · he שֵׁד (evil being) · ur دیو (evil being) · kk жын (evil being) · tk şeýtan (evil being) · es diantre (evil being) · ja 悪魔 (evil being) · jje 악귀 (evil being) · lo ສວງ (evil being) · nb demon (evil being) · cmn 惡魔 /恶魔 (evil being) · ru де́мон (false god, Satanic divinity) · tr cin (evil being) · ast enemigu (evil being) · ca dimoni (evil being) · nv chʼį́įdii (evil being) · pl czart (evil being) · he מגיד (inner spirit or genius) · cmn 魔鬼 (evil being) · fa ابلیس (false god, Satanic divinity) · ky демон (evil being) · nci tzitzimītl (evil being) · fa شیطان (evil being) · hi राक्षस (evil being) · he שֵׁד (person with great energy or skill, enthusiast) · got 𐍃𐌺𐍉𐌷𐍃𐌻 (evil being) · gd deamhan (false god, Satanic divinity) · ka ეშმაკი (false god, Satanic divinity) · nay muldarpi (evil being) · hi राक्षस (false god, Satanic divinity) · uk чорт (evil being) · yi קליפּה (evil being) · el δαιμόνιο (evil being) · ang dēofol (false god, Satanic divinity) · th ภูตผีปิศาจ (evil being) · ny chiŵanda (evil being) · uk біс (evil being) · sa राक्षस (person with great energy or skill, enthusiast) · ast demochu (evil being) · nl kwade geest (evil being) · de Dämon (evil being) · sa राक्षस (evil being) · ota شیطان (false god, Satanic divinity) · uz iblis (evil being) · roa-opt demo (evil being) · gez ጋንን (evil being) · sq djemën (evil being) · lv dēmons (evil being) · ru бес (false god, Satanic divinity) · km អសុរា (evil being) · id setan (false god, Satanic divinity) · ast diablu (evil being) · bg дявол (evil being) · mk демон (evil being) · qu supay (evil being) · kk әбілет (evil being) · lo ພາຽ (evil being) · swb djini (evil being) · lo ອະມະນຸດ (evil being) · peo 𐎭𐎡𐎺 (false god, Satanic divinity) · tk iblis (evil being) · grc δαιμόνιον (evil being) · ky азезил (evil being) · hi देव (false god, Satanic divinity) · nah tzitzimitl (evil being) · mdf демон (false god, Satanic divinity) · el δαίμονας (evil being) · uz shayton (evil being) · ja 悪霊 (evil being) · ja 悪魔 (false god, Satanic divinity) · sl demon (evil being) · id dajal (false god, Satanic divinity) · lo ຜີປະກຳ (evil being) · th อสุรกาย (evil being) · bg де́мон (evil being) · ja 達人 (person with great energy or skill, enthusiast) · id siluman (evil being) · ru дух (inner spirit or genius) · ar شَيْطَان (evil being) · gd deamhan (evil being) · bg дух (inner spirit or genius) · gv jouyl (evil being) · ko 악귀 (evil being)