demon
de-mon · noun
Definitions
noun
- 1.
An evil supernatural being; a devil or fiend.
- 2.
A cruel, malicious, or destructive person.
- 3.
A persistent tormenting force or problem (often figurative).
- 4.
(informal) A very skilled or energetic person.
Related words
Etymology
From Latin daemon, from Greek daimon meaning "divine power, spirit, deity." In ancient Greek, daimons were not necessarily evil but were intermediate spirits between gods and humans. The negative connotation developed through Christian theology, which associated pagan spirits with evil.