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daemon

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daemon

In computing, background process running on a Unix computer system that automatically handles tasks such as routing e-mail.

The word derives from medieval spirits deemed to be neutral, that is, neither good (angels) nor evil (devils).

daemon

To the early Greeks, a god as he appeared in his dealings with humans. In classical times the word came to mean a lesser deity, inferior to the Olympians, but taking a personal interest in individuals. Each human was thought to have a good and evil daemon.

The exclusively bad meaning of the word (‘demon’) was given to it by the early Christians, who regarded all the pagan divinities as evil.
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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
I, who would undergo all the plagues and miseries which any daemon ever invented for mankind, to procure her any good; nay, torture itself could not be misery to me, did I but know that she was happy.
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Fielding, Henry View in context
A flash of lightning illuminated the object, and discovered its shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy daemon, to whom I had given life.
Frankenstein by Shelley, Mary View in context
Norris, instead of having comfort from either, was but the more irritated by the sight of the person whom, in the blindness of her anger, she could have charged as the daemon of the piece.
Mansfield Park by Austen, Jane View in context
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