- de´mon|like´
- de|mon «DEE muhn», noun, adjective.–n.1. an evil spirit; devil; fiend: »
In his dream the boy was chased by seven green demons. ... haunted by woman wailing for her demon-lover! (Samuel Taylor Coleridge).
2. a) a very wicked or cruel person: »The hero was a demon in disguise.
b) a person or thing viewed by another as an evil, harmful, or disruptive influence.3. Figurative. an evil influence: »The demon of greed ruined the miser's happiness.
4. a person who has great energy or vigor: »My music teacher is a demon for practicing.
5. an attendant or guiding spirit.6. Greek Mythology. an inferior or minor god.–adj.= demoniac: (Cf. ↑demoniac) »the demon Senate Majority lead who could swing almost anything, the big wheeler-dealer (New York Times).
Also daemon.╂[< Latin daemonium < Greek daimónion divine (thing), demigod; (in Christian writings) evil spirit < Greek daímōn divinity, spirit]–de´mon|like´, adjective.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.