demonology
Meaning
The study of demons or demonic beliefs.
Structure
Usage
His academic research focused on medieval demonology and its influence on European witch trials.
The book provides a comprehensive overview of comparative demonology across different cultures.
She wrote her thesis on the iconography of demons in Renaissance demonology.
Etymology
The word 'demonology' is a modern English formation built from classical components. Its first element, 'demon', traces back to the Greek daimōn, a term for a divine power or spirit, which in Christian contexts evolved to signify a malevolent supernatural being. The suffix '-logy', derived from Greek -logia (a combining form of logos, meaning 'discourse' or 'reasoning'), systematically denotes a branch of knowledge. Thus, the compound literally means "the discourse or study of demons," formally describing the systematic investigation of demonic beings, their hierarchies, and associated beliefs, a field that intersects with theology, folklore, and the history of religions.
Analysis
- demon: From Latin daemon and Greek daimōn (deity, spirit, often malevolent). In this compound, it functions as the base noun meaning an evil spirit. - o: A connective vowel (interfix) of Greek origin, used to join word roots. - logy: From Greek -logia (denoting a subject of study or discourse), from logos (word, reason, discourse). It functions as a suffix meaning "the study of."