demonology

noun

de·​mon·​ol·​o·​gy ˌdē-mə-ˈnä-lə-jē 

1

: the study of demons or evil spirits

2

: belief in demons : a doctrine of evil spirits

3

: a catalog of enemies

the liberal creed at that time put Big Business in a central place in its demonology

—Carl Kaysen

demonological

ˌdē-mə-nə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

demonologist

ˌdē-mə-ˈnä-lə-jist 

noun

Examples of demonology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The preacher is Greg Locke, a right-wing firebrand who, over the past three years, has plunged into the world of demonology, hosting at his ministry, Global Vision Bible Church, two conventions devoted to the subject in as many years. —Sam Kestenbaum, Harper's Magazine, 21 June 2024

Even for those of us with a skeptical disposition, the cache of symbols, metaphors, narratives, and characters which demonology offers remains some of the most powerful ways of discussing subjects ranging from why evil exists to how justice should be realized. —TIME, 28 Oct. 2023

Magic words and letters play their part in these dogmas of demonology, which dip far down into the glooming depths of human credulity. —Alexander Sammon, Harper's Magazine, 25 June 2022

Crow studied demonology and exorcisms and may have traveled with the 18-year-old to Spain to perform an exorcism. —Warren Kulo | [e-mail], al, 26 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

demon + -o- + -logy

Note: Word introduced by King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) in his Daemonologie, in forme of a Dialogue, diuided into three bookes (Edinburgh, 1597). New Latin daemonologia occurs commonly in the 17th century, but is apparently not attested earlier than King James' dissertation in English.

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1