Also 9 (? Fr.) energumene. [ad. late L. energūmenus, a. Gr. ἐνεργούμεν-ος, pass. pple. of ἐνεργέειν to work in or upon, f. ἐν in + ἔργ-ον work: cf. Fr. energumène. The Lat. pl. energumeni sometimes occurs.]
1. One that is wrought upon or possessed by a devil; a demoniac.
[1658. trans. Bergeracs Satyr. Char., xii. 59. If then this Energumenus, hath a thousand lengths and breadthes that are so many Crosses about her.]
1706. trans. Dupins Eccl. Hist. 17th C., I. V. 98. From Catechumens he passes to the Energumens.
1820. Scott, Abbot, xxxii. If there was ever an Energumene, or possessed demoniac there is a devil speaking with that womans tongue!
1855. Smedley, Occult Sc., 173. Such catechumens as were not at the same time energumens.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola (1880), I. I. v. 69. Deluded by debasing fanatical dreams, worthy only of an energumen whose dwelling is among tombs.
2. A possessed person, an enthusiast, a fanatical devotee. Also attrib.
1702. C. Mather, Magn. Chr., I. iii. (1852), 63. Quakers and Seekers, and other such Energumens. Ibid., III. II. xxvi. 493. The man of an energumen countenance.
1818. T. Jefferson, Writ., IV. 451. When General Washington was withdrawn, the energumeni of royalism mounted on the car of State.
1860. Gen. P. Thompson, Audi Alt., III. civ. 12. Suppose some energumene were to make the declaration [etc.].
1885. Morley, in Macm. Mag., Feb., 255/2. The seeming peril to which priceless moral elements of human character were exposed by the energumens of progress.
Hence † Energumenical a. Obs., having the characteristics of a demoniac or possessed person. Energumenist = ENERGUMEN 1.
1684. I. Mather, Remark. Provid. (1856), 121. Certain arguments of an energumenical person.
1646. Gaule, Cases Consc., 37. The meerly Passive be simply dæmoniacks, but not Energumenists.