angel

an·gel

noun \ˈān-jəl\

Definition of ANGEL

1

a : a spiritual being superior to humans in power and intelligence; especially : one in the lowest rank in the celestial hierarchy

b plural : an order of angels — see celestial hierarchy

2

: an attendant spirit or guardian

3

: a usually white-robed winged figure of human form in fine art

4

: messenger, harbinger <angel of death>

5

: a person like an angel (as in looks or behavior)

6

Christian Science : inspiration from God

7

: one (as a backer of a theatrical venture) who aids or supports with money or influence

8

: angelfish

— an·gel·ic \an-ˈje-lik\ or an·gel·i·cal \-li-kəl\ adjective

— an·gel·i·cal·ly \-li-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of ANGEL

1. Your son is such an angel!
2. He's not a bad kid, but he's no angel.
3. Be an angel and get me a cup of tea, would you?

Origin of ANGEL

Middle English, from Old English engel & Anglo-French angele; both from Late Latin angelus, from Greek angelos, literally, messenger

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to ANGEL

Synonyms

lamb, dove, innocent, sheep

Antonyms

wolf

Related Words

babe, colt, cub, fledgling, greenhorn, ingenue (or ingénue), naïf (or naif), newbie, tenderfoot, virgin; cherub, saint; mollycoddle, sissy, softy (or softie), weakling, wimp; dupe, pigeon, sap, sucker

Near Antonyms

bully, roughneck, rowdy, tough; beast, boor, cad, churl, clown, creep, cretin, cur, heel, jerk, joker, louse, lout, slob; shark, skunk, snake, stinker; devil, knave, miscreant, no-good, rapscallion, rascal, reprobate, rogue, scalawag (or scallywag), scamp, scoundrel, varlet, villain

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

angel

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Primarily in Western religions, any of numerous benevolent spiritual beings who mediate between heaven and earth. They often serve as messengers or servants of God or as guardians of an individual or nation. In Zoroastrianism the amesha spenta are arranged in a hierarchy of seven. Judaism and Christianity base their notion of angels on references in the Hebrew scriptures to divine servants and to the heavenly hosts. Two archangels (Michael and Gabriel) are mentioned in the Old Testament and two others (Raphael and Uriel) in the Apocrypha. Angels are mentioned throughout the Christian scriptures, and Christian tradition identifies nine orders of angels. Islam's hierarchy of angels descends from the four throne bearers of God to the cherubim who praise God, the four archangels, and lesser angels such as the hafazah (guardian angels). See also cherub; seraph.