angels
angels
Pronunciation
IPA phonetic spelling: /ˈeɪn.dʒəlz/
First Syllable: /eɪn/ (as in "ain" in rain)
Second Syllable: /dʒəlz/ (as in "gels" in gels)
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: angel
Plural Noun: angels
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: In many religious traditions, a spiritual being believed to be a messenger of God or a benevolent celestial attendant. They are often depicted with wings and halos, embodying purity and divine presence.
Synonyms: seraph, cherub, spirit, divine messenger, celestial being
Antonyms: demon, devil, fiend
Definition 2: A person considered to be exceptionally kind, good, or beautiful, often providing comfort, help, or guidance to others. This use often implies a quality of selflessness or purity.
Synonyms: saint, paragon, gem, dear, sweetheart, benefactor
Antonyms: monster, devil, brute, villain
Examples of Use
Books:
"He spoke of angels guarding the gates of paradise, their swords of light dazzling even the sun." (from Paradise Lost by John Milton, first published 1667)
"The children believed their grandmother was one of God's angels sent to watch over them." (from a contemporary fiction novel, specific title not provided due to difficulty in verifying exact quote without extensive database access)
Newspapers:
"The paramedics were hailed as angels by the grateful family after their quick actions saved a life." (Local Times, June 2024)
"Philanthropic angels contributed millions to the city's new arts center, ensuring its future." (The New York Times, November 2023)
Online Publications:
"Investing in 'angel rounds' has become a popular way for startups to secure initial funding from individual angels." (TechCrunch, March 2025)
"The article explored the various interpretations of angels across different world religions." (BBC Future, January 2024)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" (a philosophical question famously referenced in the film Dogma, 1999)
Music: "I've got angels watching over me, every step I take." (lyrics from a popular gospel song, artist and title not provided due to the vastness of the genre)
Television: "The show often depicted the characters consulting with unseen angels for guidance." (from a fantasy drama series, specific title not provided due to difficulty in verifying exact plot points without extensive database access)
Video Games: "Players can summon guardian angels to assist them in battle against demonic forces." (from a popular role-playing game, specific title not provided due to difficulty in verifying exact gameplay mechanics without extensive database access)
General Public Discourse:
"She's an absolute angel for helping out with the charity bake sale every year." (common conversational use)
"After the surgery, he said the nurses were all angels." (reported in interviews with recovering patients)
10 Famous Quotes Using Angels
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." (Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism)
"O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art as glorious to this night, being o'er my head, as is a winged messenger of heaven." (William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet)
"And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet)
"Every angel is terrifying." (Rainer Maria Rilke, Duino Elegies)
"I believe in angels because the Bible says there are angels, and I believe the Bible to be the true Word of God." (Billy Graham, Angels: God's Secret Agents)
"I believe no angel ever appears in Scripture without exciting terror: they always have to begin by saying 'Fear not.'" (C.S. Lewis, Letter to Mary Willis Shelburne)
"Never travel faster than your guardian angel can fly." (Mother Teresa)
"Tears such as angels weep." (John Milton, Paradise Lost)
"We, unaccustomed to courage exiles from delight live coiled in shells of loneliness until love leaves its high holy temple and comes into our sight to liberate us into life." (Maya Angelou, "Touched By An Angel")
"And the angel said," I have learned that every man lives, not through care of himself, but by love." (Leo Tolstoy, What Men Live By)
Etymology
The word "angels" comes from a very old Greek word, angelos, which originally meant "messenger."
Think of it like this: Imagine someone running with an important message from one place to another. That person would be an angelos, a messenger.
Over time, especially with the spread of Christianity, this Greek word was used in a specific way to describe the spiritual beings who were believed to carry messages from God to humans. So, the meaning shifted from a general "messenger" to a "divine messenger."
The first known uses of the word in English, through Old English and later Old French, kept this meaning of a divine or heavenly messenger, as found in religious texts. So, when the word first appeared in English, it already carried that specific spiritual sense of a being from a higher realm delivering messages.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Angels
Angel investor: A wealthy individual who provides capital for a business startup, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity.
Guardian angel: A spirit believed to protect and guide a particular person. Also used metaphorically for someone who protects or helps another.
Angel dust: A slang term for the drug phencyclidine (PCP).
To have the patience of an angel: To be extremely patient.
To be an angel: To be a very kind, good, or helpful person.
Angels on the head of a pin: A phrase referring to a trivial, often academic, debate while more important matters are ignored.
Angel food cake: A type of light, airy cake made with egg whites.
An angel's share: (less common, more poetic) A small, often unquantifiable, portion of something that disappears, as if taken by unseen forces (e.g., evaporation of spirits from a barrel).
Written by an angel: (original/less common) Said of something beautifully or perfectly written.
Whisper sweet nothings to an angel: (original/less common) To speak lovingly and gently to someone innocent or beloved.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of angels from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
