God

 
Pronunciation: /gɒd/

noun

  • 1(in Christianity and other monotheistic religions) the creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority; the supreme being.
  • 2 (god) (in certain other religions) a superhuman being or spirit worshipped as having power over nature or human fortunes; a deity: a moon god the Hindu god Vishnu
  • an image, animal, or other object worshipped as divine or symbolizing a god: wooden gods from the Congo
  • used as a conventional personification of fate: he dialled the number and, the gods relenting, got through at once
  • 3 (god) a greatly admired or influential person: he has little time for the fashion victims for whom he is a god
  • a thing accorded the supreme importance appropriate to a god: don’t make money your god
  • 4 (the gods) informal the gallery in a theatre: they sat in the gods

exclamation

  • used for emphasis or to express emotions such as surprise, anger, or distress: God, what did I do to deserve this? God, how I hate that woman!

Phrases

God's acre

archaic a churchyard.

for God's sake!

see sake1 (sense 3).

God bless

an expression of good wishes on parting: good night and God bless

God damn (you, him, etc.)

used to express anger or annoyance with someone.

God the Father

(in Christian doctrine) the first person of the Trinity, God as creator and supreme authority.

God forbid

see forbid.

God grant

used to express a wish that something should happen: God grant he will soon regain his freedom

God help (you, him, etc.)

used to express the belief that someone is in a difficult or dangerous situation: God help anyone who tried to jolly me out of my bad mood

God's gift

chiefly British the ideal or best possible person or thing for someone or something (used chiefly ironically or in negative statements): he appeared to think he was God’s gift to women

God's truth

the absolute truth (often used for emphasis): I loved him, that’s God’s truth

God the Son

(in Christian doctrine) Christ regarded as the second person of the Trinity; God as incarnate and resurrected saviour.

God willing

used to express a wish or hope: one day, God willing, she and John might have a daughter

in God's name

used in questions to emphasize anger or surprise: what in God’s name are you doing?

in the lap of the gods

see lap1.

play God

behave as if all-powerful: the fear about scientists playing God and creating children

please God

used to emphasize a strong wish or hope: please God the money will help us find a cure

thank God

see thank.

to God

used after a verb to emphasize a strong wish or hope: I hope to God you’ve got something else to put on

with God

dead and in heaven.

Derivatives

godhood

noun

godship

noun

godward

adjective & adverb

godwards

adverb

Origin:

Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch god and German Gott