demonic
Definitions & Usage
Pertaining to demons or evil spirits; demoniac.
Pertaining to daemons in ancient Greek thought; concerning supernatural ‘genius’.
Notable Literary & Historical Quotes
“Aristotle concedes that the nature of the dream is indeed daemonic [translating dämonischer], but not divine – which might well reveal a profound meaning, if one could hit on the right translation.”
— 1999, Sigmund Freud, translated by Joyce Crick, The Interpretation of Dreams, section I:
“Lifton goes on to argue that they can commit these demonic acts because they rationalize their behaviour. A whole array of rationalizations justified the murder of innocent men, women and children.”
— 2009, Peter Fleming, Stelios C. Zyglidopoulos, Charting Corporate Corruption: Agency, Structure and Escalation, page 40:
“Texts show the star prime time host Tucker Carlson calling Mr. Trump a “demonic force,” […]”
— 2023 April 1, Jonathan Weisman, quoting Tucker Carlson, “Trump and Fox News, Twin Titans of Politics, Hit With Back-to-Back Rebukes”, in The New York Times, →ISSN: