Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 00:12:02 GMT From: Salvo <bartequi@inwind.it> To: err@intergrafix.net Cc: freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: the word demon Message-ID: <20000619.120200@bartequi.ottodomain.org>
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What is the defference between the word demon and the word devil? please help me to deffine each. e-mail err@intergrafix.net Dear "Eltgad", The matter is a bit complicated. Actually, the Oxford Dictionary (J. Pearsall 1998) records three terms "demon" and two terms "daemon" which, furthermore, are semantically/orthographically related to one another, with one remarkable exception -- see below. Let us begin by considering the most important "demon" ("demon1"). The word has two main (or "core") meanings: 1) an evil spirit or devil, especially one thought to possess a person or act as a tormentor in hell (Oxford Dictionary, Pearsall 1998); From this "core" (ie central, most literal) meaning, other "subsenses" derive, e.g. by extension||shift||specialization: "a cruel, evil, or destructive person or thing; a forceful, fierce, or skilful performer of a specified activity(a demon cook; a demon for work), etc.; all of those meanings are described in the aforementioned Dictionary. 2)it is another term for "daemon1" (in sense 1). The word comes from Greek "daimon" (deity, genius) --> Latin (and medieval Latin) daemon --> Middle English; there was also a Latin variant daemonium (in sense 1: "lesser or evil spirit") actually deriving from the diminutive of "daimon". "Demon2" (chiefly Austral./NZ) bears no relation to our discussion; "demon3" is really a variant spelling of "daemon2" Now let us consider the words daemon1,2. "Daemon1" (also "daimon"), (core) sense 1 : (in ancient Greek belief) a divinity or supernatural being of a nature between gods and humans; subsense 1: an inner or attendant spirit or inspiring force. Sense 2: archaic spelling of demon1 :-) Please note: the variant "daimon" is identical to the Greek original spelling. Origin of "daemon1": mid 16th century: common spelling of "demon1" until the 19th century. "Daemon2" (also "demon") (Computing): a background process that handles requests for services [ quibusdam omissis ]. The Oxford definition of the technical meaning is not interesting (IMO); I prefer Grog's treatment (cf The Complete FreeBSD) :-)) The origin of this "daemon2", according to the Oxford Dictionary, is not certain. Maybe it comes from d(isk) a(nd) e(xecution) mon(itor), or from de(vice) mon(itor); or from a transferred use of demon1. I am more inclined to think of the last etymological hypothesis -- which, incidentally, is much nicer, too ;-)) Finally, let us take "devil" into account. Some meanings simply overlap with those of "demon" -- just to add to the confusion. "Devil" sense 1 ("the Devil", capital letter): (in Christian and Jewish belief) the supreme spirit of evil; Satan. A number of subsenses stem from here: e.g. "an evil spirit", " a demon"; a very wicked or cruel person, etc. The other meanings, essentially, are not relevant to our case. One final etymological remark. It may be thought-provoking to note that "devil" comes ultimately from Greek "dia(~across)+ballo(~I throw)" (ballo, aor. ebalon) whereas "symbol" comes from Greek "syn(~with)+ballo" ... HTH, Salvo To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-doc" in the body of the message
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