polydaemonism

American  

[pol-ee-dee-muh-niz-uhm] / ˌpɒl iˈdi məˌnɪz əm /

Or polydemonism

noun

1. the belief in many evil spirits.

---

Other Word Forms

• polydaemonist noun
• polydaemonistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of polydaemonism

First recorded in 1705–15; poly- + daemon + -ism

Example Sentences

Perhaps, however, we should rather use the word 'polydaemonism' than 'polytheism.'

From Project Gutenberg

And the difference between the two stages of polydaemonism and polytheism is not merely limited to the fact that the beings worshipped have proper names in the later stage, and had none in the earlier.

From Project Gutenberg

At the time when polydaemonism has, as yet, not become polytheism, the personal beings, worshipped in this or that external form, have not as yet been anthropomorphised.

From Project Gutenberg

Indeed, the process which constitutes the change from polydaemonism to polytheism consists in the process, or rather is the process, by which the spirits, the personal beings, worshipped in tree, or sky, or cloud, or wind, or fire came gradually to be anthropomorphised—to be invested with human parts and passions and to be addressed like human beings with proper names.

From Project Gutenberg

Polydaemonism, like fetishism, does not produce mythology; but, for a different reason.

From Project Gutenberg