A person thought to be possessed by a demon or evil spirit.
From Greek daimonikos, from daimon (demon/spirit). The term appears in Christian texts referring to those believed to be demon-possessed, particularly in the Gospels.
In medieval and ancient texts, people labeled as 'demoniacs' were often suffering from epilepsy, mental illness, or neurological conditions that doctors simply didn't understand—what we'd diagnose medically today was once attributed to supernatural possession.
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