angelic

American  

[an-jel-ik] / ænˈdʒɛl ɪk /

Sometimes angelical

adjective

1. of or belonging to angels.

   the angelic host.

   Synonyms:

   cherubic, seraphic, beatific, saintly, celestial, ethereal

2. like or befitting an angel, especially in virtue, beauty, etc..

   angelic sweetness.

   Antonyms:

   diabolic, fiendish

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angelic British  

/ ænˈdʒɛlɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to angels

2. Also: angelical.  resembling an angel in beauty, purity, etc

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Usage

What does angelic mean? Angelic means having the qualities of an angel, such as by being beautiful, pure, or kind. It can also be used to describe things that relate to or involve angels, as in I had a dream about angelic beings. In some religions, angels are heavenly beings associated with qualities such as grace, beauty, and kindliness. They are sometimes thought of as perfect beings, and the word angel is often used in a figurative way to refer to a person with these qualities. Describing someone or something as angelic often implies that it has these qualities. Angelic can be used to describe a person, as in You look truly angelic in that dress or Some people are kind, but Ruth is simply angelic. It can also be used to describe things. For example, you might say that a child has an angelic face or that a talented singer has an angelic voice. The variant angelical means the same thing but is much less commonly used. Example: The angelic sound of harp is unlike that of any other instrument.

Other Word Forms

• angelically
  adverb
• angelicalness
  noun
• hyperangelic
  adjective
• hyperangelical
  adjective
• hyperangelically
  adverb
• nonangelic
  adjective
• pseudoangelic
  adjective
• pseudoangelical
  adjective
• pseudoangelically
  adverb
• quasi-angelic
  adjective
• quasi-angelically
  adverb
• superangelic
  adjective
• superangelically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of angelic

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English angelyk, from Late Latin angelicus, from Greek angelikós; equivalent to angel + -ic

Explanation

Many kids look angelic, meaning sweet and cherubic, when they’re asleep. Hard to believe that two hours earlier they were spitting milk at the babysitter and stuffing peas up their nose. The adjective angelic can describe anything related to angels or resembling an angel. It can refer to actual angels, as in an angelic choir, which is a bunch of singing angels. Or it can be used to describe someone or something that has the sweet and gentle qualities of an angel. If a choir sounds angelic, it’s a normal choir of people but their voices are so pure and beautiful that they sound like angels.

Example Sentences

I'm going to be at the Angelic, I'm going to be wherever I can be at screenings.

From Salon • Oct. 29, 2023

Angelic Young, 46, of Silver Spring, Md., was standing on the platform as the train whooshed by.

From Washington Post • Dec. 7, 2022

Thompson has drummed with a series of other bands over the years, including Concrete Blonde and Angelic Upstarts.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 26, 2022

Tuscans refer to the position as the Angelic position while some Arabic-speaking groups call it the manner of serpents.”

From Slate • Jan. 31, 2019

He used to play Angelic Ring with Steven and Weslee.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Related Words

• celestial
• ethereal
• heavenly
• lovely
• otherworldly
• radiant
• saintly
• virtuous