daemon
daemon Lexical Profile
daemon Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A computer program that runs as a background process, rather than being under the direct control of an interactive user.
"The system administrator restarted the print daemon after the network printer stopped responding to requests."
In ancient Greek belief, a divinity or supernatural being of a nature between gods and humans; an inner or attendant spirit or inspiring force.
"Socrates often spoke of an inner daemon that warned him against making unwise moral choices."
An archaic or literary variant spelling of demon, meaning an evil spirit or fiend.
"The gothic novel described a malevolent daemon haunting the ruins of the ancient abbey."
Word Nuance & Usage
The spelling 'daemon' is typically chosen over its homophone 'demon' to denote a neutral or benevolent guiding spirit in classical philosophy, or specifically to refer to a background process in computing.
• Rhymes for daemon
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Latin 'daemon', from Ancient Greek 'daimon' (divinity, spirit, or genius), which in classical philosophy referred to a neutral or benevolent guiding spirit before acquiring negative connotations in Christian theology.