Such a being imagined or conceived as possessing and controlling a person.

a demon who associates with or is under the power of a person; cf. sense A. 3a.

a spirit, often taking the form of an animal, which obeys and assists a witch or other person; = sense A. 3a.

A spirit which takes possession of a person; a familiar, esp. one with powers of prophesy. Also: a person possessed by and uttering the words of…

A spirit, often taking the form of an animal, which obeys and assists a witch or other person. Cf. earlier familiar spirit n. familiar devil n. at…

transferred. A demon, evil spirit; occasionally a familiar spirit.

An evil spirit that possesses a person, animal, etc.

An assistant; spec. a familiar spirit.

An imp, a familiar spirit.

A familiar spirit or demon. Obsolete.

= paredrus, n.

A familiar spirit.

Among Arawak and Carib peoples of Guyana and Venezuela: a spirit, or person possessed by a spirit, who causes sickness or death as an act of…

In several North African countries, a malignant spirit, possession by which is a traditional explanation for attacks of (usually religious) mania…