Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A demon appearing in the biblical book of Tobit, considered in the Talmud to be the king of demons and depicted in later Jewish tradition as a mischievous sprite.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Medieval Latin Asmodaeus, from Mishnaic Hebrew ’ašməday, from Avestan *Aēšma-daēuua-, demon of anger : aēšma-, anger, Aeshma (a Zoroastrian demon); see eis- in Indo-European roots + daēuua-, demon; see dyeu- in Indo-European roots.]

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Examples

  • He whom we call Asmodeus, was named Hashmodaï or Chammadaï.

    A Philosophical Dictionary 2007

  • The (in) famous demon statue, life-size and crouching on one knee just inside the door, is usually referred to as Asmodeus (a demon who guards buried treasure).

    The Sion Revelation Lynn Picknett 2006

  • The (in) famous demon statue, life-size and crouching on one knee just inside the door, is usually referred to as Asmodeus (a demon who guards buried treasure).

    The Sion Revelation Lynn Picknett 2006

  • The (in) famous demon statue, life-size and crouching on one knee just inside the door, is usually referred to as Asmodeus (a demon who guards buried treasure).

    The Sion Revelation Lynn Picknett 2006

  • “Archdemon Asmodeus, aka Nathaniel,” Bath Kol murmured, bringing his hands close to the table.

    Surrender the Dark L. A. Banks 2011

  • “Archdemon Asmodeus, aka Nathaniel,” Bath Kol murmured, bringing his hands close to the table.

    Surrender the Dark L. A. Banks 2011

  • I pondered why a figure of a demon or devil called Asmodeus was at the entrance of the church and why there was a sign over the church entrance stating Terribilis est locus iste and generally translated as This place is terrible.

    Deception, Lies and Gullibility 2009

  • The owner, a somewhat eccentric lady of stern and excruciating distinction, had eight or nine cats, one of whom, by name Asmodeus, was a tomcat, said to be unapproachable.

    So much tidier than bloodshed 2007

  • Or, if you be daring enough to take a light from the flamer while he flames, you spoil your tobacco, foul your mouth, and get a taste of sulphur-suffocation such as Asmodeus might have were he to take a whiff of a smoke-and-fire belching chimney in the Black Country as he flies across that district by night.

    Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce E. R. Billings

  • "Asmodeus" need not be of Iranian origin; but may just as readily be explained as Semitic.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 14: Simony-Tournon 1840-1916 1913

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