Daimon

Origin

From Ancient Greek δαίμων (daimōn, "dispenser, god, protective spirit").

Noun

1. A tutelary spirit that guides a person; a genius; a lar.
• 1891, Walter James Hoffman, The Mide'wiwin or "Grand Medicine Society" of the OjibwaThe object which first appears is adopted as the personal mystery, guardian spirit, or tutelary daimon of the entranced, and is never mentioned by him without first making a sacrifice.
• 1900, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., Over the TeacupsAll at once, my daimon—that other Me over whom I button my waistcoat when I button it over my own person—put it into my head to look up the story of Madame Saqui.
• 1960, Charles I. Glicksberg, Norman Mailer: The Angry Young Novelist in America, in Wisconsin Studies in Contemporary Literature, vol. 1, no. 1He will release his pent-up rage and fear no evil, for his genius is with him, and his daimon bids him violate all the taboos of the literary marketplace.
• 1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.27:Marcus Aurelius is persuaded that God gives every man a special daimon as his guide – a belief which reappears in the Christian guardian angel.

Derived terms

• daimonic

Anagrams

• domain
• domina