daemon
/'di:mən/ Cách viết khác : (daemon) /'di:mən/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- An evil supernatural being; a demon: In computing and mythology, a daemon is often conceptualized as a background process or a supernatural entity, respectively. The term originates from Greek mythology, denoting a lesser deity or guiding spirit.
- A person who is part mortal and part god: This archaic usage refers to a divine being of a nature between gods and humans.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- In ancient Greek thought, a daemon could be a benevolent or malevolent spiritual force.
- The print spooler on your computer runs as a daemon, managing print jobs in the background.
- He was driven by a creative daemon that demanded constant expression.
Advanced Usage
- In Computing: A daemon is a background process that handles requests for services such as email or network connections. It is not controlled by a user and typically starts during the boot process.
- The
httpddaemon is essential for running a web server.
- Philosophical/Historical Context: In Socratic philosophy, a daemon (or ) referred to an inner divine voice or guiding spirit.
- Socrates claimed to be guided by his personal daemon, which warned him against mistakes.
Variants and Related Words
- Daemonic (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of a daemon; fiendish or supernaturally powerful.
- The artist was possessed by a daemonic energy.
- Daimon: An alternative spelling, especially used in philosophical and classical contexts to refer to the guiding spirit.
- Demon: The more common modern spelling, typically emphasizing an evil spirit. In computing, "daemon" is the preferred spelling to distinguish it from the malevolent entity.
Synonyms
- Demon: An evil spirit or fiend.
- Spirit: A supernatural being, which can be good or evil.
- Genius (archaic): A tutelary spirit or natural inclination.
Related Phrases
- Daemon process: (Computing) A specific term for a background service process in Unix-like operating systems.
- You need to restart the daemon process for the changes to take effect.
- Inner daemon: A metaphorical phrase for a powerful internal drive or compulsion.
- She fought against her inner daemon of self-doubt.
Related Idioms
- To have a daemon: To possess an extraordinary talent or relentless drive, often used in a creative context.
- As a composer, Mozart seemed to have a daemon.
- At the mercy of one's daemons: To be controlled by one's inner compulsions or negative impulses.
- After the loss, he was at the mercy of his daemons.
Noun
- a person who is part mortal and part god
- an evil supernatural being