pandemonium

English

WOTD - 25 August 2007    

Alternative forms

• pandaemonium
• pandæmonium

Etymology

Coined by John Milton in "Paradise Lost," Pandæmonium, from Ancient Greek πᾶν (pan, “all”) (equivalent to English pan-) + Late Latin daemonium (“evil spirit, demon”), from Ancient Greek δαίμων (daimōn, “demon”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˌpandɪˈməʊnɪəm/
• (US) IPA: /ˌpændəˈmoʊniəm/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -əʊniəm

Noun

pandemonium (plural pandemoniums or pandemonia)

1. (archaic) A place where all demons live; Hell.
   • 1674 — John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book I

     And Trumpets sound throughout the Host proclaim
     A solemn Councel forthwith to be held
     At Pandæmonium, the high Capitol
     Of Satan and his Peers.

2. Chaos; tumultuous or lawless violence.
   • 2004, Boston Globe, October 22

     Whenever you have violent pandemonium, there's the overwhelming possibility for panic and tragedy.

3. An outburst; loud, riotous uproar, especially of a crowd.

Synonyms

• (tumultuous or lawless violence): chaos
• (an outburst): outburst, uproar

Related terms

• pandemoniac

Translations

chaos; tumultuous or lawless violence

Dutch: pandemonium (nl) n. French: chaos (fr) m. German: Chaos (de) n.

Greek: πανδαιμόνιο (el) (pandaimónio) n. Icelandic: ringlulreið f.

an outburst; loud, riotous uproar

Dutch: pandemonium (nl) n. Finnish: mekastus French: chaos (fr) m., charivari (fr) m., tumulte (fr) m., chahut (fr) m.

German: Tumult (de) m. Greek: πανδαιμόνιο (el) (pandaimónio) n.

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Dutch

Noun

pandemonium ? (plural pandemoniums, diminutive pandemoniumpje) n.

1. pandemonium, residence of all demons/devils, hell;
2. pandemonium, a 'hellish' chaos, notably terrible noise and disorder