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godson

[ god-suhn ]

noun

  1. a male godchild.


godson

/ ˈɡɒdˌsʌn /

noun

  1. a male godchild
“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


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Word History and Origins

Origin of godson1

before 900; Middle English; Old English godsunu. god, son
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Example Sentences

Darren Baker says that Jackson, a Cal assistant and Dusty’s godson, helped him slip away from his dad’s long shadow.

As for my godson, I completely adored him—just like every other white lady who ever saw him.

When my godson Trey was a toddler growing up in Brooklyn, every white woman who saw him fell in love with him.

Wonderful news from the British think tank Policy Exchange: They have appointed the brilliant Dean Godson as their new director.

They included both William Davenant, a godson of Shakespeare and Sir John Suckling, the inventor of the card game cribbage.

My godson and I wrote a note of congratulations and slipped it under her door.

Mr. Godson opposed the measure; and Mr. Charles Buller delivered a clever speech in its support.

President de Thou paid his godson a visit during which he showed himself most fatherly.

"I should not be surprised at it—with him," Godson answered.

I gave it also to my godson, a little rascal who would be about your age now, and whom I have sought in vain in Paris.

And the next morning the old man set out in his carriage with his dear godson.

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More About Godson

What does godson mean?

A godson is a boy who’s the godchild of one or more godparents—people who have pledged to help with his upbringing, especially in a religious way.

In some denominations of Christianity, when a child is baptized, they are sponsored by (usually two) adults who pledge to help in this way. Those adults are the child’s godparents, and the child is their godchild.

Godsons are often related to their godparents (a boy might be his aunt’s godson, for example), but they don’t need to be.

Godparents also often pledge to become the godchild’s guardian if needed (in the event that the child’s parents die).

These terms are all sometimes applied outside of a religious context—parents may choose close relatives or friends to act as godparents for their children without any religious aspect to the relationship.

A godparent can still refer to their godchild with that term even after the child becomes an adult.

Example: Some people are godparents in name only, but Kelly and Chris spend as much time as they can with their godson.

Where does godson come from?

Godson is an old word, with the first records of its use coming from before 900. Even though the word God is usually capitalized in the context of Christianity, it’s spelled lowercase in some general terms, such as godliness.

In some Christian denominations, people officially become godparents to their godchild at the child’s baptism by making specific pledges to assist with their religious upbringing. Some parents, though, choose godparents for their child simply by asking them to have a special presence in their godchild’s life (and often to act as the child’s guardians if something should happen to them). This may or may not involve a religious aspect.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for godson?

What are some words that share a root or word element with godson

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing godson?

 

How is godson used in real life?

The word godson is especially associated with the relationship that’s made official during the Christian ceremony of baptism, but it’s also used in nonreligious contexts.

 

 

Try using godson!

Is godson used correctly in the following sentence?

I try to be a good godmother by always sending my godson something for his birthday.

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