In religion, folklore, and mythology a demon (or daemon, dæmon, or even daimon) is a supernatural being that has generally been described as a malevolent spirit, and in Christian terms it is an Angel not following god. A demon is frequently depicted as a force that may be conjured and insecurely controlled. The "good" demon in recent use is largely a literary device (e.g., Maxwell's demon), though references to good demons can be found in Hesiod and Shakespeare. In common language, to "demonize" a person means to characterize or portay them as evil, or as the source of evil.