alastor
"Alastor" is a rare and archaic English word drawn from ancient Greek mythology. It has two closely related senses — both tied to the idea of vengeance and evil spirits. You are unlikely to encounter it in everyday conversation, but it appears in literature, poetry, and discussions of mythology.
In ancient Greek belief, an alastor was an evil spirit or divine force that carried out punishment and vengeance — especially within a family. Think of it as a curse that follows a family from one generation to the next, making sure wrongdoers are punished. It is not a person, but a supernatural force of retribution.
Greek mythology / classical literature · Archaic, found mainly in academic and literary texts
Alastor was also used as a title or epithet for Zeus in his role as the god who oversees vengeance and punishes those who commit terrible crimes. When the Greeks called Zeus 'Alastor', they were emphasising his role as the enforcer of divine justice.
Greek mythology / classical studies · Archaic, used in ancient Greek religious and literary contexts
As Alastor, Zeus was seen not as a creator but as a relentless judge of human wrongdoing.
By extension, 'alastor' was sometimes used in older English writing to describe a person who brings ruin or misfortune to others — someone so wicked that they seem to be an instrument of evil themselves. It is a very strong and dramatic label for a villain or a destructive individual.
literature / poetry · Archaic, rare in modern usage · figurative