Dementor's Nature (Re: Dementors and the MoM)

[deborahhbbrd]

No: HPFGUIDX 124801


> Tonks wrote:
> "I think of the Dementor as a Demon Tormentor hence: Dementor"

Geoff:
> Interestingly, I've always associated it with "demented", which my
> dictionary defines as "wild and irrational" from the Latin "demens"
> (= insane). The "-or" ending of the word suggests that they are the
> producers of this, i.e. contact with Dementors - short of being
> kissed - might affect you in this way.
> 
> In other words, "Warning. Dementors can seriously damage your health"
> and "Every Dementor carries a Government health warning." :-)


If you look at the Latin more closely, you get De = away from + mens =
mind + -or = the agent or person performing the action. So, Dementors
take your mind away, whether directly with a kiss or more slowly by
negating your ability to be psychologically positive.

The idea that breath and life are linked is old and obvious; the habit
of blessing people who sneeze started as an attempt to prevent an evil
spirit from moving in when the person's own spirit had been sneezed
out! So, the kiss would be a semisurgical removal of the mental life
of the victim.


"deborahhbbrd"