Daemon
[/ˈdiːmən/ or /ˈdeɪmən/]
nounmasculinepl: Daemons
daemon; demônio; espírito
1. In classical mythology and religion, a supernatural being or spirit, often intermediary between gods and humans
In ancient Greek philosophy, a daemon was a divine spirit that could guide human destiny.
Na filosofia grega antiga, um daemon era um espírito divino que podia guiar o destino humano.
2. In computing, a background process or program that runs on a computer system without direct user interaction
The email daemon processes incoming messages automatically in the background.
O daemon de email processa mensagens recebidas automaticamente em segundo plano.
3. An evil spirit or demon, particularly in Christian or religious contexts
Medieval texts often depicted daemons as malevolent forces opposing divine will.
Textos medievais frequentemente retratavam daemons como forças maléficas que se opunham à vontade divina.
4. In Socratic philosophy, an inner divine voice or guide
Socrates spoke of his daemon as a voice that warned him against wrong actions.
Sócrates falava de seu daemon como uma voz que o advertia contra ações erradas.
In English-speaking cultures, 'daemon' carries dual meanings: the mythological/philosophical sense (often associated with Socrates' guiding voice) and the modern computing sense (background processes). In Brazil and Portugal, the mythological sense aligns with 'demônio' (demon), though the term retains its neutral philosophical meaning in academic contexts. In tech industries across Portuguese-speaking countries, 'daemon' is used untranslated as it's a specialized technical term. The spelling 'daemon' (vs. 'demon') is often preferred in technical and academic writing to distinguish it from purely evil connotations.
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