Daemon: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the ancient Greek 'daimon', which referred to a spirit or divine power.
• In Greek mythology, daimons were often thought of as mediators between gods and humans.
• The concept evolved through history to include both good and evil spirits, influencing many cultures.

Literature

• In Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials', a daemon is a physical embodiment of a person's soul in animal form.
• Dante Alighieri used the term in his works to suggest malevolent spirits in his 'Divine Comedy'.
• The term has been used in various fantasy genres to denote creatures with special abilities or magical powers.

Technology

• In computing, a daemon is a background process that handles tasks for the operating system, often running as a server.
• The name was inspired by the notion of a helpful spirit, as these processes silently manage tasks in the background.
• Popular examples include web servers and print spooling processes, which operate without direct user interaction.

Pop Culture

• The concept of daemons has been depicted in various films and series, often as spirits or figures assisting main characters.
• In popular video games, daemons are sometimes adversaries or allies with magical abilities, adding depth to the storyline.
• Anime and manga often include characters with daemon-like qualities, emphasizing the connection between human emotions and spirit beings.

Psychology

• In psychological terms, a daemon can symbolize inner conflicts or guiding principles within a person’s psyche.
• Carl Jung referred to such entities as archetypes, suggesting that they are part of our subconscious influencing our actions.
• The belief in personal daemons highlights the human tendency to seek out guidance or support from externalized figures.

At rank #27,428, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.

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• 27425 harbouring
• 27426 ridiculing
• 27427 metallurgist
• 27428 daemon
• 27429 quizzical
• 27430 pleasantry
• 27431 salvo
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