释义 |
demonic, a.|dɪˈmɒnɪk| Also dæm-. [ad. L. dæmonic-us, a. Gr. δαιµονικ-ός of or pertaining to a demon, possessed by a demon, f. δαίµων, δαιµον-: see demon1 and -ic.] 1. Of, belonging to, or of the nature of, a demon or evil spirit; demoniacal, devilish.
1662Evelyn Chalcogr. 68 Convulsive and even Demonic postures. 1738G. Smith Curious Relat. I. iv. 518 So many Demonick Delusions. 1840Carlyle Heroes (1858) 197 ‘Jötuns,’ Giants, huge shaggy beings of a demonic character. 1886Q. Rev. Oct. 53 The traditional demonic proposal, ‘I will be your servant here, and you shall be mine hereafter’. 2. Of, relating to, or of the nature of, supernatural power or genius = Ger. dämonisch (Göthe): cf. demon1 1. (In this sense usually spelt dæmonic for distinction.)
1798W. Taylor in Monthly Rev. XXVI. 491 In his immature youth he had detected within himself a something dæmonic. 1854Lowell Cambridge 30 Yrs. Ago Pr. Wks. 1890 I. 87 Shall I take Brahmin Alcott's favorite word, and call him a Dæmonic man? [1874see demoniac 4.] 1879Fitzgerald Lett. (1889) I. 447 There is enough to show the Dæmonic Dickens: as pure an instance of Genius as ever lived. 1887Saintsbury Hist. Elizab. Lit. vii. (1890) 258 If they have not the dæmonic virtue of a few great dramatic poets, they have..plentiful substitutes for it. |