[a. Gr. κακοδαίμων evil genius; also adj. possessed by an evil genius, ill-starred; whence sense 2.]
1. An evil spirit.
[1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., II. xix. (1495), 45. Plato in Cuneo callith the deuyll Cachodemon, that is to vnderstonde knowynge euyll.]
1594. Nashe, Terrors of Night, Wks. 1883–4, III. 267. Anie terror, the least illusion in the earth, is a Cacodæmon vnto him.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iii. 144. Leaue this World, Thou Cacodemon!
1664. Butler, Hud., II. III. 177/644. Nor was the Dog a Cacodæman, But a true Dog.
1728. Young, Love Fame, II. (1757), 95. Poor negroes, thus, to show their burning spite To cacodæmons, say, they’re dev’lish white.
1870. Lowell, Among My Books, Ser. I. (1873), 93. To make the pagan divinities hateful, they were stigmatized as cacodæmons.
† b. Med. A name for nightmare. Syd. Soc. Lex.
1811. in Hooper, Med. Dict.
c. transf. Applied to persons, etc.
1711. Mrs. Centlivre, Marplot, IV. Wks. (1760), 168. The old Cacademon is gone into that house.
1821. Scott, Kenilw. (1867), 109. My miller’s thumb—my prince of cacodemons—my little mouse.
1854. Badham, Halieut., 419–20. Untaught by Dr. Watts or their parents to know better, these little cacodemons [etc.].
2. Astrol. The Twelfth House (or Scheme) in a figure of the Heavens, so called from its baleful signification.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Rollo, IV. ii. 442. The twelfth the Cacodemon.
1721–90. in Bailey.
