ˈdemēˌərj, esp Brit ˈdē- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Late Latin demiurgus, from Greek dēmiourgos, literally, one who works for the people, from dēmios of the people (from dēmos people) + -ourgos worker (akin to ergon work) — more at dem- , work
1. usually capitalized
a. in Platonism : the subordinate god who fashions the sensible world in the light of eternal ideas
b. in some Gnostic systems : an inferior not absolutely intelligent deity who is the creator of the material world and is frequently identified with the creator God of the Old Testament
2. : something (as an institution, idea, or individual) conceived as an autonomous creative force or decisive power
that too was a gain in spiritual balance, provided the machine was not conceived as a demiurge that ruled all other human needs — Lewis Mumford