Demogorgon

Pseudo-loan from Ancient Greek, most likely actually invented by a Christian scholar c. 350–400 C.E. The origins of the name are uncertain, partly because the figure itself was possibly of imaginary coinage. Various theories suggest that the name is derived from the Greek words daemon (“spirit”, given the Christian connotations of “demon” in the early Middle Ages)—or, less likely demos (“people”)—and Gorgon or γοργός (gorgós, “grim”). A less accepted theory claims that it is derived from a variation of “demiurge”.

Demogorgon

1. A pagan god or demon, associated with the underworld and envisaged as a powerful primordial being, whose very name was taboo.
   • 1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 963–965:

     […] and by them ſtood / Orcus and Ades, and the dreaded name / of Demogorgon […]

   • 1972 [1940], Jean Seznec, translated by Sessions, Barbara, La Survivance des dieux antiques [Survival of the Pagan Gods] (Bollingen Series), Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, pages 221–222:

     Demogorgon is a grammatical error, become god.

Demogorgon (plural Demogorgons)

1. A manufactured horror; a Frankenstein's monster.