angel

[ eyn-juh l ]

/ ˈeɪn dʒəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR angel ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

one of a class of spiritual beings; a celestial attendant of God. In medieval angelology, angels constituted the lowest of the nine celestial orders (seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominations or dominions, virtues, powers, principalities or princedoms, archangels, and angels).

a conventional representation of such a being, in human form, with wings, usually in white robes.

a messenger, especially of God.

a person who performs a mission of God or acts as if sent by God: an angel of mercy.

a person having qualities generally attributed to an angel, as beauty, purity, or kindliness.

a person whose actions and thoughts are consistently virtuous.

an attendant or guardian spirit.

a deceased person whose soul is regarded as having been accepted into heaven.

a person who provides financial backing for some undertaking, as a play, political campaign, or business venture: A group of angels entered the mix, providing George the leverage he needed to take the startup company in a new direction. Angels seek deals that they can exit in less than a decade.

an English gold coin issued from 1470 to 1634, varying in value from 6s. 8d. to 10s. and bearing on its obverse a figure of the archangel Michael killing a dragon.

Slang. an image on a radar screen caused by a low-flying object, as a bird.

verb (used with object), an·geled, an·gel·ing or, esp. British an·gelled, an·gel·ling.

Informal. to provide financial backing for: Two wealthy friends angeled the Broadway revival of his show.

Nearby words

angakok, angara, angarsk, angary, angashore, angel, angel bed, angel cake, angel dust, angel falls, angel food cake

Origin of angel

before 950; 1890–95 for def 9; Middle English a(u)ngel (< Anglo-French, Old French) < Late Latin angelus < New Testament Greek ángelos messenger of God, special use of Greek ángelos messenger; replacing Old English engel < Latin, as above

Can be confused

angel angle

Definition for angel (2 of 2)

Angel

[ eyn-juh l; Spanish ahn-hel ]

/ ˈeɪn dʒəl; Spanish ɑnˈhɛl /

noun

a male or female given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for angel

Especially not when the display in question includes an angel falling from the sky in flames, surrounded by Biblical verses.
In Florida, ’Tis The Season for Satan|Jay Michaelson|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Lindsay Ellingson, an “angel” for three years, said she had been inspired by Giselle and Heidi Klum.
I Got Kicked Out Of The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show|Nico Hines|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was the voice of an angel, but I wanted the face, the photos, the video of the family.
The Life of a Liberian Child with Ebola|Sarah Crowe|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The baby was naturally attracted to the bowlful of gold and jewels, but an angel intervened and pushed his hand to the other bowl.
Jon Stewart and 'Meet The Press' Would Have Been One Unhappy Marriage|Lloyd Grove|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Suppose you actually do have an angel over your shoulder telling you the right thing to do.
It’s Official: Religion Doesn’t Make You More Moral|Elizabeth Picciuto|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But all is over with me on earth, and this must be an Angel.
Our Mutual Friend|Charles Dickens
The man was innocent of any evil intent on this occasion, but Ravenshaw would have quarrelled with an angel just then.
The Red Man's Revenge|R.M. Ballantyne
The angel in thee and rejects the sprites That ineffectual crowd about his strength, And mingle with his work and claim a share!
The Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, Vol. 1 (of 2) 1845-1846|Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett
They say an angel of the devil lives here and thrashes around at times in terrible anger.
Carmen Ariza|Charles Francis Stocking
By the angel's advice young Tobias taketh hold on a fish that assaulteth him.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various

British Dictionary definitions for angel

angel

/ (ˈeɪndʒəl) /

noun

theol one of a class of spiritual beings attendant upon God. In medieval angelology they are divided by rank into nine orders: seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominations (or dominions), virtues, powers, principalities (or princedoms), archangels, and angels

a divine messenger from God

a guardian spirit

a conventional representation of any of these beings, depicted in human form with wings

informal a person, esp a woman, who is kind, pure, or beautiful

informal an investor in a venture, esp a backer of a theatrical production

Also called: angel-noble a former English gold coin with a representation of the archangel Michael on it, first minted in Edward IV's reign

informal an unexplained signal on a radar screen

Word Origin for angel

Old English, from Late Latin angelus, from Greek angelos messenger

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012