energumen

/ ˌɛnəˈɡjuːmɛn /

noun

1. a person thought to be possessed by an evil spirit

2. a fanatic or zealot

Word History and Origins

Origin of energumen¹

C18: via Late Latin from Greek energoumenos having been worked on, from energein to be in action, from energos effective; see _energy

Example Sentences

Isaac closed his eyes and muttered, “By the power that is within me, in the name of the Lord Jesus, I ask, Lord, I ask that this wicked spirit be cast out, that Satan’s work be confounded, that this unfortunate Africk energumen be freed from the shackles of diabolatry as he was of slavery.”

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Colin is a sort of freelance philosophical energumen, who, upon receiving several cryptic typed messages, makes them the subject of an obsessive study.

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And Pascale Ogier was a young energumen of the new Paris night life.

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Energumen, en-er-gū′men, n. one possessed: a demoniac.

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"This, then, is that energumen whom we are so frightened of in the provinces!" exclaimed our friend.

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