Angel

Pronunciation

• enPR: ānʹjÉ™l, IPA: /ˈeɪn.dÊ’É™l/

Alternative forms

• aynjel (Jamaican English)

Origin

From Middle English angel, aungel, ængel, engel, from Anglo-Norman angele, angle and Old English ængel, engel ("angel, messenger"), possibly via an early Proto-Germanic *angiluz but ultimately from Latin angelus, from Ancient Greek ἄγγελος (ángelos, "messenger"). Cognate with Scots angel ("angel"), West Frisian ingel ("angel"), Dutch engel ("angel"), Low German engel ("angel"), German Engel ("angel"), Swedish ängel ("angel"), Icelandic engill ("angel"), Gothic 𐌰𐌲𐌲𐌹𐌻𐌿𐍃 (aggilus, "angel, messenger").

Full definition of angel

Noun

1. A divine and supernatural messenger from a deity, or other divine entity.
• Ben JonsonThe dear good angel of the Spring,
  The nightingale.
2. (Abrahamic tradition) The lowest order of angels, below virtues.
3. A selfless person.You made me breakfast in bed, you little angel.
4. (military slang) An altitude, measured in thousands of feet.Climb to angels sixty.
5. An affluent individual who provides capital for a startup, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity.
6. A minister or pastor of a church, as in the Seven Asiatic churches.
• Bible, Rev. ii. 1Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write.
7. (obsolete) Attendant spirit; genius; demon.
8. (historical) An ancient gold coin of England, bearing the figure of the archangel Michael, and varying in value from six shillings and eightpence to ten shillings.

Synonyms

• errand-ghost

Hyponyms

• cherub, minion, power, principality, seraph, throne

Derived terms

Related terms

Descendants

• Hawaiian: ʻānela

Verb

1. (transitive, slang) To support by donating money.
• 1984, American Magazine, You've got to come to Chicago to meet Duell, and see Wilson, who's going to angel the show.

Anagrams

• angle, Angle
• Elgan
• Galen
• glean