deity
DAY-ih-tee
/ˈdeɪ.ɪ.ti/
A god or goddess in a polytheistic religion, or the supreme being in a monotheistic religion.
Can refer to a specific divine entity or the abstract state of being divine.
The story behind the word. Passed from Old French 'deité' from Church Latin 'deitatem', derived from Latin 'deus' (god), rooted in the Indo-European root for light and daytime sky.
Word relationships
- god: 'God' is common English, while 'deity' is slightly more formal and precise in comparative contexts.
- divinity: 'Divinity' emphasizes the holy nature or abstract quality, whereas 'deity' usually denotes a concrete divine personage.
- mortal: A human or entity subject to death and decay, unlike a deity.
Commonly confused with
- deism: Deism is a philosophy believing in a creator deity who does not intervene in the universe; deity is the entity itself.
Word family
- deify (verb): To treat or worship someone or something as a deity.
- deification (noun): The act of making or treating someone as a deity.
Collocations
- supreme deity
- patron deity
- minor deity
- pagan deity
Example sentences
- "The carved marble statue depicted the river deity crowned with aquatic flora." Art History
- "They prayed to the deity for a bountiful harvest and protection from famine." Literature
Memory hook
DEITY sounds like DAY-light; the shining sky gods of antiquity. A supreme entity of worship.
When not to use
Do not use to refer to secular rulers or mortal authority figures unless metaphorically.
Fun facts
- The English word 'day' comes from Old English, but 'deity' comes from Latin 'deus' which originally meant the bright sky.
Explore more words
theology, temple, omnipotence, monotheism, devotion, oblation
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