Hear it pronouncedImp
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An imp is a mythological being similar to a fairy or demon, frequently described in folklore and superstition. The word derives from the term ympe, used to denote a young grafted tree.
Imps are usually described as mischievous more than seriously threatening, and as lesser beings rather than more important supernatural beings. The attendants of the devil are sometimes described as imps. They are usually described as lively and having small stature.
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[ Folklore
Some accounts of imps treat them as capable of being turned to good, because they are so desperately lonely they would do almost anything—even commit good deeds—to have a committed friend.
The Ancient Greek demigod Pan has some features in common with an imp, but this is unlikely to be a direct connection, since the imp concept probably belongs to Germanic rather than Hellenic tradition. However, imps are sometimes described as fond of music, and capable of being charmed into making a promise to aid, and "do good" in that manner through music—though there is always likely to be some mischievous trick to be attached to the barter.[citation needed]
Imps were the common name given to familiar spirits that served witches in the middle ages. Imps were usually kept inside artifacts such as gemstone pieces or vials and summoned for service by magics. An example of such an imp is one that was supposedly under the service of the alchemist Paracelsus.
[ References in popular culture
- In the comic books of DC Comics, imps are extra-dimensional beings from the fifth dimension. Imps sometimes travel to the third dimension (the main DC universe) where they have power over the fabric of reality. Imps include Mr. Mxyzptlk, Bat-Mite, Qwsp, and Thunderbolt.
- In the Soul Eater anime and manga, there is an imp in the mind of Soul since he was cut by Ragnarok.
- In the Doom series of video games, Imps are demonic foot soldiers from Hell, and the most commonly-encountered demon enemy. They attack the player with fireballs they generate from their hands, or by slashing with their claws when up close.
- Imps are featured in World of Warcraft as a Warlock pet.
- In RuneScape, imps are portrayed as the size of baby demons. They are weak, pesky, and have a bad rep as thieves. Before a graphics update, imps were portrayed as Gnomes wearing devil costumes.
- In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Link's fairy refers to Skull Kid on more than one occasion as an imp. Also, in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, one of the main characters in the game is an imp named Midna, whom Link must fight along with to save her world.
- In the later seasons of hit television show Dharma & Greg, Dharma frequently refers to Gregg as an "imp" (for some unknown reason, this is never explained by the producer, Chuck Lorre).
- In Discworld book series by Terry Pratchett portable appliance - like Iconographs and Dis-organisers - is powered by Imps.
- In the famous children's cartoon story in India, called Mayavi, the protagonist Mayavi himself is an Imp.
- In Digimon Tamers, there is one main digimon charecter named Impmon.
- In Guild Wars, Imps are a common enemy in a certain region of the game and a spawn able fire version can be carried.
[ See also
[ References
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