δαίμων Ancient Greek · revision 15584

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=Homer, Iliad|origins=ine-pro *deh₂y-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /dǎi̯.mɔːn/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /ˈðɛ.mon/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈðe.mon/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''δαίμων''' (daímōn) ''m'' or f (genitive δαίμονος); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|grc|δαίομαι|tr=daíomai|t=to divide, apportion]] with the suffix [[m|grc|-μων|tr=-mōn]], probably meaning “one who apportions”, from Indo-European [[ine-pro|*deh₂y-|t=to share, divide]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary)^(DGE) The same development is seen in [[peo|baga-|t=god]] and [[cu|богъ|tr=bogŭ|t=god]] beside [[ae|baga-|tr=baga-|t=share]] and [[sa|भग|tr=bhága|t=share; dispenser, lord]], from [[m|sa|भजति|tr=bhájati|t=divides]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) Porzig's view that it meant “one who tears apart, devours (corpses)” is rejected.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Homer uses it from the first book of the ''Iliad'' (1.222) for gods, but more often for the divine power at work in events, the will of heaven, while θεός is a god in person.^(GLAUx)^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was also fortune and fate, sometimes arbitrary, and a person's own lot (the ''Odyssey'', Hesiod, Pindar, tragedy).^(CGL 2021) Empedocles calls Love and Strife δαίμονες.^(LSJ 1940) It also meant a guardian spirit, like Latin ''genius'', and a departed soul.^(Wiktionary) In ecclesiastical and biblical Greek it is a demon, an evil spirit.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Its derivatives include [[δαιμόνιος|tr=daimónios]] “sent by a god, wondrous”, used as an address (δαιμόνιε), and [[δαιμόνιον|tr=daimónion]] “divine power”.^(Beekes 2010) Medieval Greek kept the word,^(Kriaras) and the modern form is ''δαίμονας''.^(Πάπυρος) English ''daimon'' (1852) is a transliteration used to avoid the later sense of ''demon''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Homer – The ''Iliad'' uses it for a god and for divine power.^(GLAUx)^(LSJ 1940)

+ * Before the 6th century BC – Hesiod uses it for fate.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 5th century BC – Empedocles calls Love and Strife δαίμονες.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * Biblical – It means an evil spirit.^(Wiktionary)

+ * 1852 – English ''daimon'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A god, goddess.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # The divine power, the will of heaven.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # [[m|en|fate|alt=Fate]], fortune, destiny; one's lot.^(CGL 2021)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A guardian spirit.^(Wiktionary)

+ # A departed soul.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(biblical, ecclesiastical)'' A [[m|en|demon]], evil spirit.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[δαιμόνιος|tr=daimónios]]

+ * [[δεισιδαίμων|tr=deisidaímōn]]

+ * [[εὐδαίμων|tr=eudaímōn]]

+ * [[ἰσοδαίμων|tr=isodaímōn]]

+ * [[κακοδαίμων|tr=kakodaímōn]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|demon]]

+ * [[en|daimon]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}