n.1 a an attendant or messenger of God. b a conventional representation of this in human form with wings. c an attendant spirit (evil angel; guardian angel). d a member of the lowest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy (see ORDER).
2 a a very virtuous person. b an obliging person (be an angel and answer the door).
3 an old English coin bearing the figure of the archangel Michael piercing the dragon.
4 sl. a financial backer of an enterprise, esp. in the theatre.
5 an unexplained radar echo.
Phrases and idioms:
angel cake a very light sponge cake. angel-fish any of various fish, esp. Pterophyllum scalare, with large dorsal and ventral fins. angel-shark MONKFISH 2. angels-on-horseback a savoury of oysters wrapped in slices of bacon.
Etymology: ME f. OF angele f. eccl.L angelus f. Gk aggelos messenger