WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
an•gel /ˈeɪndʒəl/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
an•gel•i•cal•ly, adv.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Religiona spiritual creature that is an attendant of God, often represented as having the form of a human being with wings.
- a person resembling an angel, as in beauty, purity, or kindliness:You're an angel to help with the children.
- Informal Termsone who provides financial backing for some undertaking, as a theatrical work.
an•gel•i•cal•ly, adv.
an•gel
(ān′jəl),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
An•gel (ān′jəl; Sp. än hel′),USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- one of a class of spiritual beings;
a celestial attendant of God. In medieval angelology, angels constituted the lowest of the nine celestial orders (seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominations or dominions, virtues, powers, principalities or princedoms, archangels, and angels). - a conventional representation of such a being, in human form, with wings, usually in white robes.
- a messenger, esp. of God.
- a person who performs a mission of God or acts as if sent by God:an angel of mercy.
- a person having qualities generally attributed to an angel, as beauty, purity, or kindliness.
- a person whose actions and thoughts are consistently virtuous.
- an attendant or guardian spirit.
- a deceased person whose soul is regarded as having been accepted into heaven.
- Informal Termsa person who provides financial backing for some undertaking, as a play or political campaign.
- Currencyan English gold coin issued from 1470 to 1634, varying in value from 6s. 8d. to 10s. and bearing on its obverse a figure of the archangel Michael killing a dragon.
- Slang Termsan image on a radar screen caused by a low-flying object, as a bird.
v.t.
- Informal Termsto provide financial backing for.
- Latin, as above
- NT Greek ángelos messenger of God, special use of Greek ángelos messenger; replacing Old English engel
- Late Latin angelus
- Anglo-French, Old French)
- bef. 950; 1890–95 for def. 9; Middle English a(u)ngel (
An•gel (ān′jəl; Sp. än hel′),USA pronunciation n.
- a male or female given name.
an•gel•ic
(an jel′ik),USA pronunciation adj.
an•gel′i•cal•ly, adv.
an•gel′i•cal•ness, n.
- of or belonging to angels:the angelic host.
- like or befitting an angel, esp. in virtue, beauty, etc.:angelic sweetness.Also, an•gel′i•cal.
- Greek angelikós. See angel, -ic
- Late Latin angelicus
- Middle English angelyk 1350–1400
an•gel′i•cal•ness, n.
- 1. ethereal, celestial, saintly, beatific, seraphic, cherubic.
- 2. fiendish, diabolic.
'angelically' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):