angel

an•gel

[[t]ˈeɪn dʒəl[/t]] n.

1) rel a celestial attendant of God; one of a class of spiritual beings who, in medieval angelology, were the lowest of the nine celestial orders (seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominations, virtues, powers, principalities, archangels, and angels)

2) rel a conventional representation of such a being, in human form, with wings

3) rel a messenger, esp. of God

4) a person having qualities generally attributed to an angel, as beauty, purity, or kindliness

5) an attendant or guardian spirit

6) a deceased person whose soul is regarded as having been accepted into heaven

7) inf Informal. one who provides financial backing for some undertaking, as a play or political campaign

8) sts Slang. an image on a radar screen caused by a low-flying object, as a bird

9) inf Informal. to provide financial backing for

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Etymology: bef. 950; ME a(u)ngel (< AF, OF), OE engel < LL angelus < Gk ángelos messenger an•gel•ic ænˈdʒɛl ɪk an•gel′i•cal,adj. an•gel′i•cal•ly, adv.