angel English · revision 5126

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 950|origins=grc ἄγγελος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈeɪn.dʒəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|angel|alt=angel, aungel]], [[inh|ang|engel]], fused about 1300 with Old French [[m|fro|angele]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) both from [[la-lat|angelus]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from Greek [[grc|ἄγγελος|tr=ángelos|t=messenger]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) The Old English word was one of the earliest Germanic borrowings from Latin.^(Hoad 1986) In the Septuagint the Greek word translated Hebrew mal'akh “messenger”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Its own origin is uncertain: Beekes compares Greek ángaros “Persian mounted courier”, of Iranian origin, while Klein suggests Semitic sources.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A divine messenger, one of an order of spiritual beings attending God: about 950 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The fallen angels are also from about 950.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English also called an angel aerendgast, literally “errand-spirit”.^(Etymonline) A guardian spirit is from 1382.^(OED 1989) Of persons, someone lovely or gracious, it is by the 1590s.^(Etymonline) The angel was also an English gold coin, first struck in 1465 by Edward IV, stamped with the archangel Michael killing the dragon.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)^(HTOED) In slang, a financial backer, especially of a theatrical production, is from 1885, and the verb “to finance” from 1904 (1929 in the OED).^(HTOED)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) ''Angel food cake'' is by 1881 and ''angel dust'' from 1968.^(Etymonline) ''Angelic'' is from about 1385, in Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 950 – a divine messenger.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – the form angel.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1382 – a guardian spirit.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1465 – the gold coin.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – a lovely person.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1885 – a financial backer.^(HTOED)

+ * 1929 – verb, to finance.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A spiritual being believed to serve God as a messenger or attendant, often shown with wings.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A very kind or good person.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' A person who gives money to support a play or business.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A former English gold [[coin]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(informal)'' To provide money for a play or business.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[angelic]]

+ * [[angelically]]

+ * [[angelhood]]

+ * [[angelfish]]

+ * [[angelology]]

+ * [[archangel]]

+ * [[angel of death]]

+ * [[destroying angel]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Angelus]]

+ * [[evangel]]

+ * [[evangelist]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}