Category:Demoniac

De*mo"ni*ac, Dem`o*ni"a*cal, a. Etym: [L. daemoniacus, fr. daemon; cf. F. démoniaque. See Demon.]

1. Pertaining to, or characteristic of, a demon or evil spirit; devilish; as, a demoniac being; demoniacal practices. Sarcastic, demoniacal laughter. Thackeray.

2. Influenced or produced by a demon or evil spirit; as, demoniac or demoniacal power. "Demoniac frenzy." Milton.

demoniac De*mo"ni*ac, n.

1. A human being possessed by a demon or evil spirit; one whose faculties are directly controlled by a demon. The demoniac in the gospel was sometimes cast into the fire. Bates.

2. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of a sect of Anabaptists who maintain that the demons or devils will finally be saved.

---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary.

Daemoniac - One "possessed with a devil." In the days of our Lord and His apostles evil spirits, "demons," were mysteriously permitted by God to exercise an influence both over the souls and bodies of men, inflicting dumbness (Matthew 9:32), blindness (Matthew 12:22), epilepsy (Mark 9:17), insanity (Matthew 8:28; Mark 5:1). Demoniacs are frequently distinguished from those who are afflicted with ordinary bodily maladies (Mark 1:32; Mark 16:17, Mark 16:18; Luke 6:17, Luke 6:18). The demons speak in their own persons (Matthew 8:29; Mark 1:23, Mark 1:24; Mark 5:7). This influence is clearly distinguished from the ordinary power of corruption and of temptation over men. In the demoniac his personality seems to be destroyed, and his actions, words, and even thoughts to be overborne by the evil spirit (Mark l.c.; Acts 19:15).