daemon

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
daemon1 /ˈdiːmən/ (also daimon)

▶noun

• 1 (in ancient Greek belief) a divinity or supernatural being of a nature between gods and humans.

  ■ an inner or attendant spirit or inspiring force.

• 2 archaic spelling of demon1.

– derivatives
daemonic adjective.

– origin C16: common spelling of demon1 until the 19th cent.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
daemon2 /ˈdiːmən/ (also demon)

▶noun Computing a background process that handles requests for services such as print spooling, and is dormant when not required.

– origin 1980s: perh. from d(isk) a(nd) e(xecution) mon(itor) or from de(vice) mon(itor), or merely a transferred use of demon1.