Adjective the murderer seemed possessed by a demoniac wish to destroy life
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English demonyak, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French demoniac, borrowed from Late Latin daemoniacus, borrowed from Greek daimoniakós, from daimónion "evil spirit" (Septuagint, New Testament), "divine power, lesser divine being" (noun derivative from neuter of daimónios, adjective derivative of daímōn "superhuman power, spirit intermediate between gods and humans") + -akos-ac — more at demon
Noun
Middle English demonyak, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French demoniac, borrowed from Late Latin daemoniacus, noun derivative of daemoniacusdemoniac entry 1