I. ˈānjəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English angel, from Old French angele, from Late Latin angelus, from Greek angelos (translation of Hebrew mal'ākh ), literally, messenger, probably of Iranian origin; akin to the source of Greek angaros imperial Persian courier; perhaps akin to Sanskrit aṅgiras one of a group of luminous divine beings
1.
a. : a supernatural spirit especially in Persian, Jewish, Christian, and Islamic theologies that is commonly depicted as being winged and serving as God's messenger and divine intermediary and as special guardian of an individual or nation
b. : a member of any order of the heavenly hierarchy, especially of the lowest order — see celestial hierarchy
2. obsolete : one of the fallen spirits regarded as former angels of God
3. : one bearing a divine message (as a preacher or prophet)
4. : bishop , pastor
to the angel of the church in Ephesus — Revelations 2:1 (Revised Standard Version)
5. : an attendant spirit or guardian — often used without implication of belief in its supernatural character
my good angel
6. : a person deceased and regarded as received into heaven
7.
a. or angel-noble ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ : an English gold coin issued 1465-1634 that was similar in device to the Anglo-Gallic angelot and at first valued at 6 s 8 d, but later at 7 s 6 d, then at 8 s, and after 1553 at 10 s
b. : a corresponding unit of value
half an angel
c. obsolete : a bill of public credit for 10 shillings issued in the Massachusetts Colony in 1713
8. : a white-robed winged figure of human form in fine art
9. : messenger , harbinger
the angel of the spring, the nightingale — Ben Jonson
10. : a person (as a woman or a child) felt to resemble an angel (as in innocence or loveliness)
11. Christian Science : a message originating from God in his aspects of Truth and Love
12. slang : one who aids or supports with money or influence (as a backer of a theatrical venture) — sometimes used derogatively to refer to a wealthy man easily separated from his money
13. : angelfish
a black angel
14. : a member of a religious cult called Father Divine's Peace Mission
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
slang : to support or back with contributions of money
angeled several musicals
III. noun
: a radar echo caused by something not visually discernible