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archangel

/ˈɑrkeɪndʒəl/
/ˈɑkeɪndʒəl/
IPA guide

Other forms: archangels

In religious writing, an archangel is the most important angel of all, sometimes described as ranking above the regular angels.

You'll come across the noun archangel if you're reading Christian, Judaic, or Islamic religious texts. In the Christian Bible, the word archangel is only used twice, once generally and once to refer to Michael, although there are many other figures in Christianity considered to be archangels. The Greek root word, arkhangelos, is made up of arkh, "first or chief," and angelos, "angel."

Definitions of archangel
  1. noun
    an angel ranked above the highest rank in the celestial hierarchy
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    types:
    Gabriel
    (Bible) the archangel who was the messenger of God
    Michael
    (Old Testament) the guardian archangel of the Jews
    Raphael
    an archangel of the Hebrew tradition
    type of:
    angel
    spiritual being attendant upon God
  2. noun
    a biennial cultivated herb; its stems are candied and eaten and its roots are used medicinally
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    type of:
    angelica, angelique
    any of various tall and stout herbs of the genus Angelica having pinnately compound leaves and small white or greenish flowers in compound umbels
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