Demon

(demon.) [Gr. daimon, a spirit.] A name used by the ancients for certain supernatural beings, in whose existence they believed. They were spirits or genii, who appeared to men, either to do them service or to hurt them. The Platonists distinguish between gods, demons, and heroes; the demons being those since called angels. From the manner in which So crates is said to have described the demon or familiar spirit by whom he declared to be attended, there seems good reason to believe that he spoke figuratively of his natural conscience or intellect: " it directed him how to act in every important occasion of life, and restrained him from imprudence of conduct." Generally speaking, the Jews regarded demons as foul and wicked spirits. As used in the Scriptures (in the New Testament), demons are fallen angels or devils. [s. 275]