shedim

9.9

Spirits in Jewish stories that often play tricks or hurt people

noun

Literature

: shedim

The shedim are often depicted as malevolent beings that haunt the shadows of rural villages.
see the shedim

Examples

Often I played a part in their productions, but not this time because they suspected the shedim, those horrible demons that caused disease, were lurking on Fordham Road.

Fiction book (2001)
In Jewish folklore, the shedim are mischievous spirits known for causing trouble.
Legends say that shedim can sometimes be summoned by those who understand ancient rituals.

Synonyms

specter

vsshedim

56 8.6

A ghost that people say appears and frightens them at night

are mischievous or harmful folkloric beings rather than mere terrifying ghosts

dybbuk

vsshedim

Literature

2 9.9

A bad spirit from Jewish stories that enters and takes control of a living person

are general folklore spirits that do not primarily possess people

demoness

vsshedim

Literature

1 8.4

A female spirit that harms people in myths or stories

are broader malevolent spirits not specifically female

disembodied spirit

vsshedim

Literature

1 9.5

A spirit without a body that appears to people or stays near places

are folkloric beings often active and sometimes harmful rather than bodiless presences

dibbuk

vsshedim

Literature

9.9

A harmful spirit that enters and controls a living person

are general folklore spirits that usually act independently not by possession

daimonion

vsshedim

Literature

9.9

A harmful spirit that can take control of people and cause harm

are specific to Jewish folklore rather than Christian scripture contexts

Surface Forms

shedim singular

shedim plural

Etymology

Shedim comes from the Hebrew word shed meaning 'demon' or 'spirit', and it may be related to an older Mesopotamian spirit called šedu. So shedim are the troublemaking or dangerous spirits in Jewish stories, the ones who live in empty places and play tricks.