energumen: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Archaic / Very RareFormal, Literary, Historical, Theological
Quick answer
What does “energumen” mean?
A person believed to be possessed by a demon or evil spirit.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person believed to be possessed by a demon or evil spirit; in modern usage, an excessively zealous or frenzied person.
Historically, someone exhibiting symptoms of demonic possession, such as convulsions or speaking in unknown tongues. Contemporary usage often metaphorically describes someone with an uncontrollable, manic energy or fanatical enthusiasm for a cause.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or frequency. The word is equally rare in both varieties. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British academic or ecclesiastical history contexts.
Connotations
Carries strong archaic and scholarly connotations in both varieties. May imply a judgmental or pejorative tone when used figuratively.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in corpora of both BrE and AmE. Classified as an 'antiquated' or 'obsolete' term in modern dictionaries outside of specialist glossaries.
Grammar
How to Use “energumen” in a Sentence
[Subject] was considered an energumen.[Subject] acted like an energumen, [verb-ing]...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “energumen” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The medieval chronicles described the afflicted girl as a pitiable energumen.
- He transformed from a quiet debater into a political energumen during the rally.
American English
- The exorcism was performed on an energumen whose symptoms confounded local doctors.
- Critics dismissed the activist not as a reformer but as a mere energumen.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, religious studies, or literature papers discussing pre-modern concepts of mental illness or demonology.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely. If used, it would be as a deliberate, learned exaggeration.
Technical
Possible in theological or parapsychological discourse referring to historical cases of alleged possession.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “energumen”
- Misspelling as 'energuman' or 'energemun'.
- Using it as a synonym for a merely 'energetic' person.
- Using it in a positive context; it is almost always negative/pejorative.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic. Its primary use is in historical or literary contexts.
Almost never. Its historical association with demonic possession and its modern use for excessive, irrational zeal make it inherently negative.
It comes from Late Latin 'energūmenus', and ultimately from Greek 'energoumenos', meaning 'worked upon' or 'possessed by a demon', from 'energein' (to work, to be active).
It functions exclusively as a noun.
A person believed to be possessed by a demon or evil spirit.
Energumen is usually formal, literary, historical, theological in register.
Energumen: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɛnəˈɡjuːmɛn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɛnərˈɡjuːmən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms. Potential figurative use: 'a veritable energumen of reform'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ENERGY + MEN (a person) -> a person with too much (demonic or fanatical) energy.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXTREME ENTHUSIASM IS DEMONIC POSSESSION.
Practice
Quiz
In modern figurative use, calling someone an 'energumen' primarily suggests they are: