What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
daimon
Example
Socrates believed that his daimon was a divine voice that guided him in his life. [daimon: noun]
Example
She felt her daimon urging her to take a different path in life. [daimon: noun]
numen
Example
The temple was built to honor the numen of the goddess Venus. [numen: noun]
Example
He felt a numen in the forest, a sense of something greater than himself. [numen: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Numen is a less common word than daimon and is mostly used in academic or religious contexts. Daimon is more versatile and can be used in various contexts, including literature, philosophy, and psychology.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between daimon and numen?
Both daimon and numen are formal words that are not commonly used in everyday language. However, numen is more associated with religious or spiritual contexts and may be considered more formal or specialized than daimon.
