energumen
Britishnoun
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a person thought to be possessed by an evil spirit
-
a fanatic or zealot
Etymology
Origin of energumen
C18: via Late Latin from Greek energoumenos having been worked on, from energein to be in action, from energos effective; see energy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And Pascale Ogier was a young energumen of the new Paris night life.
From The New Yorker • Apr. 17, 2015
Wise old Father Theophilus, who said he knew the energumen would recover, had to dissuade the others from having last rites given her.
From Time Magazine Archive
In the first place, it is my duty to acknowledge that but for your interference yesterday the gigantic energumen by whom I was unexpectedly beset would have slain me.
From The Prince of India — Volume 01 by Wallace, Lewis
"This, then, is that energumen whom we are so frightened of in the provinces!" exclaimed our friend.
From History of the Commune of 1871 by Lissagary, P.
A few hours had sufficed to break the spirit of the energumen, who now declared that he recognized the authority of the magistrates and begged forgiveness for having insulted them.
From Là-bas by Wallace, Keene
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
