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

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Christian Religious Terms

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