demon

Everyday

1. (church, Bible) A demon is an evil spirit; Christians believe demons are fallen angels who oppose God. tree →
2. In myths, legends and games, a demon is a wicked monster or spirit. tree →
3. (informal) A demon is a person who does something with great energy or skill: a demon at chess. tree →
4. Demons can also mean a person's inner troubles or bad memories. tree →

In the lessons

In Bible stories, Jesus drives demons out of people; in religious education, beliefs about demons are said as «Christians believe» or «some people believe». In fantasy stories and video games, demons are monsters. In everyday talk, «a speed demon» drives very fast, and «fighting your demons» means battling worries or bad habits.

Examples

• In the Bible, Jesus cast out demons. tree →
• Christians believe demons are fallen angels. tree →
• The hero fought a fire demon in the video game. tree →
• My little sister is a demon at chess! tree →
• Grandad called the fast driver a speed demon. tree →
• He spoke about the demons he faced after the war. tree →
• I am no demon or fairy. tree →

Note

Countable: demons. Adjective: demonic. Similar: devil, fiend. The Greek «daimon» once meant a spirit that could be good or bad.

In Jewish tradition

In this verse it means a false spirit that people worshiped as a god, not a fallen angel.

Interpretation. Tradition reads it as a warning against sacrificing to powers that are not God. Some commentators connect the word with spirits of destruction.

Examples

• They sacrificed unto demons, no-gods, gods that they knew not, new gods that came up of late, which your fathers dreaded not. (Torah DEU.32.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto demons, (Writings PSA.106.37, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: demons. Adjective: demonic. Similar: devil, fiend. The Greek «daimon» once meant a spirit that could be good or bad.