demon

¹

[ dee-muhn ]

noun

1. an evil spirit; devil or fiend.
2. an evil passion or influence.
3. a person considered extremely wicked, evil, or cruel.
4. a person with great energy, drive, etc.:

   He's a demon for work.

5. a person, especially a child, who is very mischievous:

   His younger son is a real little demon.

6. daemon.
7. Australian Slang. a policeman, especially a detective.

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or noting a demon.
2. possessed or controlled by a demon.

demon-

²

1. variant of demono- before a vowel:

   demonism.

demon

/ ˈdiːmən /

noun

1. an evil spirit or devil
2. a person, habit, obsession, etc, thought of as evil, cruel, or persistently tormenting
3. Also calleddaemondaimon an attendant or ministering spirit; genius

   the demon of inspiration

4. 1. a person who is extremely skilful in, energetic at, or devoted to a given activity, esp a sport

      a demon at cycling

   2. ( as modifier )

      a demon cyclist

5. See daemon
   a variant spelling of daemon
6. informal.
   a detective or policeman
7. computing a part of a computer program, such as a help facility, that can run in the background behind the current task or application, and which will only begin to work when certain conditions are met or when it is specifically invoked

Word History and Origins

Origin of demon¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin daemonium < Greek daimónion, thing of divine nature (in Jewish and Christian writers, evil spirit), neuter of daimónios, derivative of daímōn; demon ( def 6 ) < Latin; daemon

Word History and Origins

Origin of demon¹

C15: from Latin daemōn evil spirit, spirit, from Greek daimōn spirit, deity, fate; see daemon

Example Sentences

Maxwell’s point was not that the demon was a lawbreaker, but that the second law was statistical.

From Science News

A demon is trapped inside of Ha Ram’s body, and its strength grows as Ha Ram’s feelings for Hong Chun-Gi become stronger.

From Time

It’s not that the team particularly loves these blood-sucking demons.

From Singularity Hub 

I own it all and this is the right response when these demons do digging.

From Washington Post

Huhn’s mom, Gail Fogelman, said she’s angry over Fiorica’s actions but she “doesn’t want to portray him as an evil demon.”

From Voice of San Diego

No matter how much he burrows into his mind, he must face the demon of death.

From The Daily Beast

While Ichabod is checking for non-existent cell service, Abbie learns that Moloch is planning to release a demon army on earth.

From The Daily Beast

What a demon, a behemoth, evil just seems to be seeping through him.

From The Daily Beast

He fashioned BOB, the demon spirit who lived in the Black Lodge, but such an explanation satisfied precious few of us.

From The Daily Beast

In a sharp voice, Larson commanded the attention of my demon.

From The Daily Beast

It may be noted in passing that in the three miracles in Matthew of exorcising a blinding demon the title “Son of David” is used.

From Project Gutenberg

And so saying, the mis-shapen little demon set up a hideous yell, and danced upon the ground as if frantic with rage.

From Project Gutenberg

Tom meekly did as he was bid, but in his heart there raged the passions of a demon, and he swore Mark Grafton should die.

From Project Gutenberg

In The Demon I have found some beautiful things, but a good deal of padding, too.

From Project Gutenberg

"Either they or some demon changelings," answered the old man, rocking to and fro upon the mats.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fiend
• malignant spirit
• monster
• vampire
• villain