angel
Other forms: angels
An angel is a messenger of God, characterized as having human form with wings and a halo. The word suggests goodness, and is often used to refer to someone who offers comfort and aid to others in times of trouble. As a child, you looked like an innocent angel; appearances can be deceiving.
The word angel derives from the Greek angelos, meaning "messenger." It is used in the Bible to denote God's attendants, with angels often depicted as being guardians of humans, an idea found in ancient Asian cultures as well. The Biblical sense was continued in a medieval gold coin called an angel, which depicted the archangel Michael. The word has been applied to angel fish, so named because they appear to have wings, and nurses, often called "angels of mercy."
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spiritual being attendant upon God
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types:
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archangel
an angel ranked above the highest rank in the celestial hierarchy
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cherub
an angel of the second order whose gift is knowledge; usually portrayed as a winged child
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seraph
an angel of the first order; usually portrayed as the winged head of a child
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guardian angel, guardian spirit
an angel believed to have special affection for a particular individual
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divine messenger
a messenger from God
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Gabriel
(Bible) the archangel who was the messenger of God
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Michael
(Old Testament) the guardian archangel of the Jews
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Raphael
an archangel of the Hebrew tradition
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genius loci
the guardian spirit of a place
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eudaemon, eudemon, good spirit
a benevolent spirit
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type of:
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spiritual being, supernatural being
an incorporeal being believed to have powers to affect the course of human events
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person of exceptional holiness
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synonyms:
holy man, holy person, saint
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types:
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Buddha
one who has achieved a state of perfect enlightenment
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fakeer, fakir, faqir, faquir
a Muslim or Hindu mendicant monk who is regarded as a holy man
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dervish
an ascetic Muslim monk; a member of an order noted for devotional exercises involving bodily movements
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type of:
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good person
a person who is good to other people
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Buddha
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invests in a theatrical production
/ˈeɪndʒəl/
/ˈeɪndʒəl/
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