Demons

See also devil; evil; ghosts; hell; spirits and spiritualism.

ademonist

one who denies the existence of the devil or demons.

bogyism, bogeyism

recognition of the existence of demons and goblins.

cacodemonia

a mania that causes a person to believe himself possessed and controlled by an evil spirit. Also cacodemonomania. —cacodemonic, cacodemoniac, adj.

demonianism

1. a belief in the possibility of possession by a demon.

2. demoniac possession. Also demoniacism. —demonian, adj. —demoniac, n., adj.

demonism

1. the belief in demons.

2. the worship of demons. Also demonolatry. —demonist, n.

demonocracy

1. the power of demons.

2. government or rule by demons. —demonocratic, adj.

demonography

demonology. —demonographer, n.

demonolatry

the worship, through propitiation, of ghosts, demons, and spirits. Also demonism.

demonology

1. the study of demons or superstitions about demons.

2. the doctrine of demons. Also demonography. —demonologist, n. —demonologic, demonological, adj.

demonomagy

Obsolete, forms of magie that require the invocation or assistance of demons.

demonomancy

a form of divination involving a demon or demons.

demonomist

Obsolete, a person who is possessed by demons.

demonomy

Obsolete, the sway or dominion of demons.

demonophobia

an abnormal fear of spirits and demons.

demonurgy

the working of magie with the aid of demons. —demonurgist, n.

devilism

qualities and doctrines that are diabolical. —devilish, adj.

energumen

a demoniac; a person possessed by an evil spirit. See also fads

exorcism

1. the ceremony that seeks to expel an evil spirit from a person or place.

2. the act or process of exorcising. —exorcist, n. —exorcismal, exorcisory, exorcistic, exorcistical, adj.

incubus

a demon alleged to lie upon people in their sleep and especially to tempt women to sexual relations. —incubi, n. pl.

nympholepsy

1. an ecstatic variety of demonic possession believed by the ancients to be inspired by nymphs.

2. a frenzy of emotion, as for something unattainable. —nympholeptic, adj.

pandemonism

Rare. the worship of spirits dwelling in all forms of nature.

Pandemonium

1. the abode of all demons; Heil.

2. any scène of wild confusion or disorder.

polydemonism, polydaemonism

a devotion to a multitude of demonic powers or spirits. —polydemonistic, polydaemonistic, adj.

succubus, succuba

a demon that assumes a female form to tempt men to intercourse, especially appearing in their dreams. —succubi, succubae, n. pl.