daimon
/ˈdaɪmɒn/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
δαίεσθαι — to divide or distribute
Overview
Meaning Now
- In ancient Greek religion, a divine power, spirit, or lesser deity that acted as an intermediary between gods and humans.
- A person's guiding spirit, conscience, or inner genius, notably associated with the 'daimonion' of Socrates.
Literal older meaning
divider, distributor, or one who apportions destiny
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Ancient Greek → English
Earliest form
δαίμων
Earliest period
8th century BCE
Journey
In Greek antiquity, a 'daimon' was not inherently malevolent. It was a neutral or benevolent supernatural entity that assigned fate or acted as a guardian. The shift toward the modern connotation of 'demon' as a purely malevolent entity occurred primarily through the Christian reinterpretation of pagan spirits.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek (8th c. BCE)
δαίμων
“divine power or spirit”
Initially general, referring to divine influence.
- Classical Greek (5th c. BCE)
δαίμων
“guiding spirit or genius”
Associated specifically with personal morality and fate.
- Koine Greek (1st c. CE)
δαίμων
“evil spirit or demon”
Influenced by Septuagint translations and early Christian theology.
- Modern English (Loanword)
daimon
“spirit or inner genius”
Reintroduced by scholars to distinguish from 'demon'.
Connections
Word parts
daimon
root
divider of fate
Related across languages
Sanskrit
dáti
he divides
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Related to daimon
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.