[gos.pel] n [ME, fr. OE godspel (trans. of LL evangelium), fr. god good + spell tale--more at spell] (bef. 12c) 1 a often cap: the message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation b cap: one of the first four New Testament books telling of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; also: a similar apocryphal book c: an interpretation of the Christian message "the social ~"
2. cap: a lection from one of the New Testament Gospels
3: the message or teachings of a religious teacher
4: something accepted as infallible truth or as a guiding principle "the ~ of conservation --R. M. Hodesh"
5: gospel music
[2]gospel adj (bef. 12c) 1 a: having a basis in or being in accordance with the gospel: evangelical "ordained to the ~ ministry --Christian Century" b: marked by special or fervid emphasis on the gospel "a ~ meeting"
2: of, relating to, or being religious songs of American origin associated with evangelism and popular devotion and marked by simple melody and harmony and elements of folk songs and blues