daimons
|dai-mon-s|
/ˈdeɪmənz/
(daimon)
guiding spirit / spirit-being
Etymology
'daimon' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'δαίμων (daimōn)', where the root referred to a 'divine power' or 'spirit'.
'daimon' passed into Latin as 'daemon' and into Medieval and Modern English as 'daemon'/'demon' and the variant 'daimon'; Christian usage shifted the sense toward an evil 'demon', while classical texts retained a more neutral or ambivalent sense.
Initially, it meant 'a divine power or spirit' in a neutral or sometimes positive sense, but over time (largely through Christian influence) it acquired the negative meaning 'evil spirit' or 'demon' in many contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'daimon': in ancient Greek belief, a spirit or lesser divine being that could influence human life.
Ancient authors describe daimons as intermediaries between gods and humans.
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Noun 2
inner guiding spirits or personal daemons (as in classical and philosophical contexts, e.g., Socratic 'daimon').
Philosophers sometimes wrote of daimons that guided a person's moral decisions.
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Noun 3
in later and modern usage (especially in fantasy, fiction, and some Christian contexts), daimons are often conflated with demons and depicted as malevolent spirits.
In the novel, daimons haunt the ruined city and terrorize the survivors.
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Last updated: 2026/01/13 05:25