Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 20:44:37 +0100 From: Colin Percival <colin.percival@wadham.ox.ac.uk> To: jeff@walters.name, freebsd-chat@freebsd.org Cc: Bill Moran <wmoran@potentialtech.com> Subject: Re: FreeBSD logo... Message-ID: <5.0.2.1.1.20030415203820.01dd56a8@popserver.sfu.ca> In-Reply-To: <200304151536.11960.jeff@walters.name> References: <3E9C2965.5080504@potentialtech.com> <BAY1-DAV71D585c9HZT00005d43@hotmail.com> <3E9C2965.5080504@potentialtech.com>
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At 15:36 15/04/2003 -0400, Jeff Walters wrote: >I know people in the BSD world are picky about the spelling of "daemon", >but I >can't figure out why. According to Merriam-Webster daemon is "variant of >demon." The spelling doesn't matter to the meaning in common language, and >it's not a trademark, so it must be a type of cult to be picky about it when >people write "demon", or to intentionally avoid the more common spelling for >the sake of distinctiveness and tradition. I think it's a case of American illiteracy. My copy of the Oxford English Dictionary clearly lists: daemon n. (in ancient Greek belief) a divinity or supernatural being of a nature between gods and humans. an inner or attendant spirit or inspiring force. demon n. an evil spirit or devil. Colin Percival
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