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demon

/ˈdiː.mən/ noun

In Latin: daemon, larva Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about demon at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. An evil supernatural being.
  2. A cruel wicked and inhuman person.
  3. Someone extremely diligent or skillful.
    he worked like a demon to finish the job on time

Origin

From Middle English demon, a borrowing from Medieval Latin dēmōn, daemōn (“lar, familiar spirit, guardian spirit”), from Ancient Greek δαίμων (daímōn, “dispenser, god, protective spirit”). Displaced native Old English sċucca (“evil spirit”) and Old English þyrs (“ogre or monster”). Doublet of daimon.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)