Pandemonium

English

Etymology

Coined by John Milton in Paradise Lost as Pandæmonium, from Greek πᾶν (“all”) + Latin daemonium (“evil spirit, demon”), from Greek δαιμόνιον (“deity”).

Pronunciation

• RP: /ˌpændɪˈməʊnɪəm/
• General American: /ˌpændəˈmoʊni.əm/
• Rhymes with: -oʊniəm

Noun

pandemonium (plural: pandemonia)

1. A loud, wild, tumultuous protest, disorder, or chaotic situation, usually involving a crowd and often violent.

   Synonyms: chaos, bedlam

   “Whatever all this pandemonium means, I suppose the police station will help us.” — G. K. Chesterton

   “Whenever you have violent pandemonium, there's the overwhelming possibility for panic and tragedy.” — The Boston Globe, October 22, 2004

1. An outburst; loud, riotous uproar, especially of a crowd.

   Synonyms: outburst, uproar

   “Cue pandemonium in the stands.” — The Guardian, March 14, 2017

1. A group of parrots. (collective noun)

Literary & Artistic Depiction

In Milton’s Paradise Lost, Pandæmonium is the capital of Hell. John Martin’s 1841 painting Pandemonium visually interprets this infernal city, depicting Satan overseeing its construction amid a vast apocalyptic landscape.

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Derived terms

• pandemonic
• pandemoniac
• pandemoniacal
• pandemoniacally
• pandemoniac
• pandemoniacal
• pandemoniacally
• pandemonious
• pandemonium architecture
• pandemonium effect
• pandamonium
• fandemonium

See also

• Pandæmonium
• all hell breaks loose

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