Cacodemon
/ˌkækəˈdiːmən/noun
An evil spirit or demon; in older medical and occult usage, a malevolent influence or spirit thought to cause harm.
Did you know?In ancient and medieval traditions, a cacodemon wasn’t just a monster story — it could also mean a hostile spirit or malign influence blamed for illness, showing how language once treated disease as a supernatural attack.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
kakodaimōn
“an evil spirit; a person under an evil influence”
Latin
Latin
cacodaemon
“an evil spirit or demon”
Late Middle English
English
cacodemon
“an evil spirit; a devil”
Modern English
English
cacodemon
“an evil spirit or demon, especially in occult or literary contexts”