δαίμων
Etym. Perh. from δαίω B, "to divide or distribute destinies".
I. "a god, goddess", like θεός, θεά, Hom., Trag., etc.:—in Hom. also "deity or divine power" (θεός denotes "a god in person)", Lat. numen; πρὸς δαίμονα against "the divine power"; σὺν δαίμονι with it, by its favour, Il.:—so, κατὰ δαίμονα, nearly = τύχηι, by "chance", Hdt.; ἐν τῶι δ. ῀ θεῶν ἐν γούνασι, Soph.
2. "one's daemon or genius, one's lot or fortune", στυγερὸς δαίμων Od.; δαίμονος αἶσα κακή id=Od.: absol. "good or ill fortune", Trag.; esp. of "the evil genius" of a family, Aesch.
II. δαίμονες, in Hes., are "the souls of men of the golden age", forming the link between gods and men:—later, of "any departed souls", Lat. manes, lemures, Luc.
III. in NTest. "an evil spirit, a demon, devil".