deity
Other forms: deities
A deity is a supernatural being, like a god or goddess, that is worshipped by people who believe it controls or exerts force over some aspect of the world.
The word deity means "divine nature." It was coined by Saint Augustine, a theologian whose writings were very influential in the shaping of Western Christianity. Deity comes from the Latin word for "god": deus. The divine nature of deities is believed to be immortal goodness and powerfulness.
Definitions of deity
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any supernatural being worshipped as controlling some part of the world or some aspect of life or who is the personification of a force
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examples:
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Demogorgon
(Greek mythology) a mysterious and terrifying deity of the underworld
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Hypnos
(Greek mythology) the Greek god of sleep; the son of Nyx
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Morpheus
the Roman god of sleep and dreams
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Boddhisatva
Buddhist worthy of nirvana who postpones it to help others
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Arhant
a Buddhist who has attained nirvana
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Quetzalcoatl
an Aztec deity represented as a plumed serpent
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types:
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daemon, demigod
a person who is part mortal and part god
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sea god
a deity that personifies the sea and is usually believed to live in or to control the sea
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sun god
a god that personifies the sun or is otherwise associated with the sun
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Celtic deity
a deity worshipped by the Celts
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Egyptian deity
a deity worshipped by the ancient Egyptians
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Semitic deity
a deity worshipped by the ancient Semites
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Hindu deity
a deity worshipped by the Hindus
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Persian deity
a deity worshiped by the ancient Persians
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Chinese deity
a deity worshipped by the ancient Chinese
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Japanese deity
a deity worshipped by the Japanese
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goddess
a female deity
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earth god, earth-god
a god of fertility and vegetation
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demiurge
a subordinate deity, in some philosophies the creator of the universe
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Graeco-Roman deity, Greco-Roman deity
a deity of classical mythology
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Greek deity
a deity worshipped by the ancient Greeks
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Roman deity
a deity worshipped by the ancient Romans
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Norse deity
a deity worshipped by the ancient Norsemen
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Teutonic deity
(German mythology) a deity worshipped by the ancient Teutons
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Anglo-Saxon deity
(Anglo-Saxon mythology) a deity worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons
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Phrygian deity
deity of the ancient Phrygians of west central Asia Minor
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saint
a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
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god of war, war god
a god worshipped as giving victory in war
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snake god, zombi, zombie
a god of voodoo cults of African origin worshipped especially in West Indies
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Grace
(Greek mythology) one of three sisters who were the givers of beauty and charm; a favorite subject for sculptors
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Fomor, Fomorian
one of a group of Celtic sea demons sometimes associated with the hostile power of nature
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Ler, Lir
the sea personified; father of Manannan; corresponds to Welsh Llyr
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Llew Llaw Gyffes
son of Gwydion and Arianrhod; supported by magic of Gwydion; cursed by Arianrhod
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Tuatha De, Tuatha De Danann
race of Celtic gods or demigods; ruled Ireland in the Golden Age
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Amen, Amon, Amun
a primeval Egyptian personification of air and breath; worshipped especially at Thebes
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Anunnaki, Enuki
any of a group of powerful Babylonian earth spirits or genii; servitors of the gods
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Lilith
in ancient Semitic folklore: a female demon who attacks children
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Aditya
one of 7 to 12 sons of Aditi; Hindu gods of celestial light
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Ahura
(Zoroastrianism) title for benevolent deities
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Asvins
(literally `possessing horses' in Sanskrit) in Hinduism the twin chariot warriors conveying Surya
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Dharma
basic principles of the cosmos; also: an ancient sage in Hindu mythology worshipped as a god by some lower castes;
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Garuda
a supernatural eagle-like being that serves as Vishnu's mount
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Marut
any of a group of Hindu storm gods; offspring of Rudra
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Rhibhus, Ribhus
one of three artisans of the Hindu gods
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Soma
personification of a sacred intoxicating drink used in Vedic ritual
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Vajra
Indra's thunderbolt
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avatar
the manifestation of a Hindu deity (especially Vishnu) in human or superhuman or animal form
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earth goddess, earth-goddess
a goddess of fertility and vegetation
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faun
ancient Italian deity in human shape, with horns, pointed ears and a goat's tail; equivalent to Greek satyr
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Adonis
(Greek mythology) a handsome youth loved by both Aphrodite and Persephone
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forest god, satyr
one of a class of woodland deities; attendant on Bacchus; identified with Roman fauns
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silenus
any of the minor woodland deities who were companions of Dionysus (similar to the satyrs)
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nymph
(classical mythology) a minor nature goddess usually depicted as a beautiful maiden
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Aether
personification of the sky or upper air breathed by the Olympians; son of Erebus and night or of Chaos and darkness
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Moirae, Moirai
any of the three Greek goddesses of fate or destiny; identified with the Roman Parcae and similar to the Norse Norns
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Parcae
any of the three Roman goddesses of fate or destiny; identified with the Greek Moirai and similar to the Norse Norns
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Muse
in ancient Greek mythology any of 9 daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne; protector of an art or science
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Pontos, Pontus
(Greek mythology) ancient personification of the sea; father of Nereus
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Rhadamanthus
(Greek mythology) a judge of the dead in the underworld
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Latona, Leto
wife or mistress of Zeus and mother of Apollo and Artemis in ancient mythology; called Latona in Roman mythology
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Aesir
(Norse mythology) the chief race of gods living at Asgard
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Vanir
(Norse mythology) race of ancient gods sometimes in conflict with the Aesir
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Nanna
(Norse mythology) wife of Balder
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Norn, weird sister
(Norse mythology) any of the three goddesses of destiny; identified with Anglo-Saxon Wyrd; similar to Greek Moirae and Roman Parcae
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Sigyn
(Norse mythology) wife of Loki; held a cup over him during his punishment to spare him the pain of drops of poison
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Ull, Ullr
(Norse mythology) one of the Aesir known for his beauty and skill with bow and skis; son of Sif and stepson of Thor
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Vali
(Norse mythology) one of the Aesir and avenger of Balder; son of Odin
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Vidar, Vithar, Vitharr
(Norse mythology) one of the Aesir; son of Odin; avenges his parent by slaying Fenrir at Ragnarok
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Weird, Wyrd
fate personified; any one of the three Weird Sisters
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patron saint
a saint who is considered to be a defender of some group or nation
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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
Pronunciation
US
/ˈdeɪɪɾi/
UK
/ˈdeɪɪti/
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