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).
2.
a conventional representation of such a being, in human form, with wings, usually in white robes.
3.
a messenger, esp. of God.
4.
a person who performs a mission of God or acts as if sent by God: an angel of mercy.
5.
a person having qualities generally attributed to an angel, as beauty, purity, or kindliness.
6.
a person whose actions and thoughts are consistently virtuous.
7.
an attendant or guardian spirit.
8.
a deceased person whose soul is regarded as having been accepted into heaven.
9.
Informal. a person who provides financial backing for some undertaking, as a play or political campaign.
10.
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.
11.
Slang. an image on a radar screen caused by a low-flying object, as a bird.
–verb (used with object)
12.
Informal. to provide financial backing for.
Origin: bef. 950; 1890–95 for def. 9;ME a(u)ngel (< AF, OF) < LL angelus < NT Gk ángelos messenger of God, special use of Gk ángelos messenger; r. OE engel < L, as above
A typically benevolent celestial being that acts as an intermediary between heaven and earth, especially in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Zoroastrianism.
A representation of such a being, especially in Christianity, conventionally in the image of a human figure with a halo and wings.
angelsChristianity The last of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology. From the highest to the lowest in rank, the orders are: seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominations or dominions, virtues, powers, principalities, archangels, and angels.
A guardian spirit or guiding influence.
A kind and lovable person.
One who manifests goodness, purity, and selflessness.
Informal A financial backer of an enterprise, especially a dramatic production or a political campaign.
[Middle English, from Old English engel or Old French angele, both from Late Latin angelus, from Late Greek angelos, from Greek, messenger.] an·gel'ic (ān-jěl'ĭk), an·gel'i·cal adj., an·gel'i·cal·ly adv.
[eyn-juh
l] 