pandemonium (Pan-demon-ium)

OED:

pandemonium

(ˌpændiːˈməʊnɪəm)

Also -dæmon-.

[In form, mod.L. f. Gr. παν- all + δαίµων divinity, demon1.]

1.1 (With capital initial.) The abode of all the demons; a place represented by Milton as the capital of Hell, containing the council-chamber of the Evil Spirits; in common use, = hell or the infernal regions.

2.2 transf. A place regarded as resembling Pandemonium: a.2.a A centre or head-quarters of vice or wickedness, a haunt of wickedness. b.2.b A place or gathering of wild lawless violence, confusion, and uproar.

c.2.c Wild lawless confusion or uproar, a distracting fiendish ‘row’.

3.3 = hell n. 7.

demon1

(ˈdiːmən)

Also 6–9 dæmon.

[In form, and in sense 1 a, a. L. dæmōn (med.L. dēmōn) spirit, evil spirit, a. Gr. δαίµων divinity, genius, tutelary deity. But in sense 1 b and 2, put for L. dæmonium, Gr. δαιµόνιον, neuter of δαιµόνιος adj. ‘(thing) of divine or dæmonic nature or character’, which is used by the LXX, N. Test., and Christian writers, for ‘evil spirit’. Cf. F. démon (in Oresme 14th c. démones); also 13th c. demoygne = Pr. demoni, It., Sp. demonio, repr. L. dæmonium, Gr. δαιµόνιον.]

a.1.a In ancient Greek mythology (= δαίµων): A supernatural being of a nature intermediate between that of gods and men; an inferior divinity, spirit, genius (including the souls or ghosts of deceased persons, esp. deified heroes). Often written dæmon for distinction from sense 2.

b.1.b Sometimes, particularly, An attendant, ministering, or indwelling spirit; a genius.

(Chiefly in references to the so-called ‘dæmon of Socrates’. Socrates himself claimed to be guided, not by a δαίµων or dæmon, but by a δαιµόνιον, divinum quiddam (Cicero), a certain divine principle or agency, an inward monitor or oracle. It was his accusers who represented this as a personal dæmon, and the same was done by the Christian Fathers (under the influence of sense 2), whence the English use of the word, as in the quotations. See tr. Zeller's Socrates iv. 73; Riddell, Apology of Plato, Appendix A.).

2.2 An evil spirit. a.2.a (Representing δαιµόνιον of the LXX and N.T. (rarely δαίµων); in Vulgate dæmonium, dæmon). Applied to the idols or gods of the heathen, and to the ‘evil’ or ‘unclean spirits’ by which demoniacs were possessed or actuated.

A Jewish application of the Greek word, anterior to Christianity. Δαιµόνια is used several times by the LXX to render shēdīm ‘lords, idols’, and sĕﻋīrīm ‘hairy ones’ (satyrs or he-goats), the latter also rendered µάταια ‘vain things’. It is also frequent in the Apocrypha (esp. in Tobit), and in the N.T., where in one instance (Matt. viii. 31) δαίµονες occurs in same sense. In the Vulgate generally rendered dæmonium, pl. -ia, but once in O.T. (Lev. xvii. 7), and in 10 places in N.T. (8 in St. Matthew) dæmon, pl. -es. These words are indiscriminately translated deofol in the Ags. Gospels, feend or deuil in Wyclif, and in all the 16–17th c. versions devil; the Revisers of 1881–5 substitute demons in Deut. and Psalms, but in the N.T. retain devil, -s, in the text, with the literal translation demon, -s, in the margin. Quite distinct from this is the word properly translated ‘Devil’, διάβολος, which is not used in the plural. It is owing to this substitution of devil in the Bible versions, that demon is not found so early in this, as in the popular sense b, which arose out of this identification.

b.2.b In general current use: An evil spirit; a malignant being of superhuman nature; a devil.

c.2.c Applied to a person (animal or agency personified), of malignant, cruel, terrible, or destructive nature, or of hideous appearance. (Cf. devil.)

d.2.d fig. An evil passion or agency personified. spec. an alcoholic drink. Also attrib.

e.2.e Applied to a being of superhuman or ‘diabolical’ energy, skill, etc. (cf. 3 a spec.); also to an action, etc.

f.2.f Cards. (Also Demon Patience.) A simple, one-pack patience game, which rarely comes out. Also Racing Demon, Demon adapted for several players, each with his own pack, but played in competition.

3.3 attrib. and Comb. a.3.a appositive (= that is a demon), as demon-companion, demon-god, demon-hag, demon-king, demon-lover, demon-mole, demon-snake; spec. applied colloq. to one who seems more than human in the rapidity, certainty, destructiveness, etc. of his play or performance, as a demon bowler at cricket; demon star, Algol [Arab., the demon: see ghoul], the star β Persei. b.3.b simple attrib. and attrib. comb. (of, belonging, or relating to a demon or demons), as demon altar, demon-doctrine, demon herd, demon-land, demon life, demon-trap, demon-ship, demon-worship; demon-bird = devil-bird; demon-kind [after mankind], the nature of demons; the race of demons; also c.3.c demon-like adj. d.3.d instrumental, etc., as demon-infested, demon-scooped, demon-stricken.