I. noun
also dae·mon ˈdēmən
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English demon, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin daemon, demon evil spirit, from Latin daemon spirit, from Greek daimōn spirit, deity; probably akin to Greek daiesthai to distribute — more at tide
1. : an attendant, ministering, or indwelling power or spirit : daimonion , genius
the only one of our five authors who writes because he has a demon — New Republic
2.
a. : an evil spirit : devil
a magical observance whose aim is to banish the demons of pain, psychosis and bad luck — Paul Bowles
b. : an undesirable or evil emotion, trait, or state personified
melancholy is a kind of demon that haunts our island — Joseph Addison
3. in late biblical Judaism and early Christianity
a. : a pagan spirit
b. : an unclean spirit or evil superhuman being below a god but believed to be capable of inhabiting and actuating the bodies of men
4. usually daemon : a supernatural being in ancient Greek mythology whose nature is intermediate between that of a god and that of a man : an inferior divinity
5. : one that possesses extraordinary drive, enthusiasm, or effectiveness in respect to some activity or function
he is a positive demon for work — William Ridsdale
II. adjective
1. : of, relating to, or involving demons
demon worship
the demon herd
2.
a. : being a demon : possessed of a demon
a demon lover
b. : having the characteristics of a demon
the demon driver of the village — Sinclair Lewis
III. abbreviation
1. demonstration
2. demonstrative