Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “demoniac” come from?

Demoniac comes from Old French demoniaque, from Latin daemoniacus, from Ancient Greek δαιμονιακός, derived from δαίμων, itself from δαίομαι, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European -mō.

demoniac (English): Possessed or controlled by a demon; Of or...

Definitions

  1. Possessed or controlled by a demon; Of or...

Ancestry of “demoniac”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchdémoniaquedemonic
2Old Frenchdemoniaquedemonic
3Latindaemōniacus—
4Ancient Greekδαιμονιακόςdemonic, devilish
5Ancient Greekδαίμωνgod, goddess; departed soul; demon, evil spirit
6Ancient Greekδαίωto light up, to kindle, to set on fire; to burn...
7Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂y-to share, divide
8Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂-to share, divide

Words derived from “demoniac”

  • demoniacism
  • cacodemoniac
  • cacodaemoniacal
Every word from Proto-Indo-European deh₂- →