deity

[ dee-i-tee ]

noun

, plural de·i·ties.

1. a god or goddess.
2. divine character or nature, especially that of the Supreme Being; divinity.
3. the estate or rank of a god:

   The king attained deity after his death.

4. a person or thing revered as a god or goddess:

   a society in which money is the only deity.

5. the De·i·ty, God; Supreme Being.

deity

¹

/ ˈdeɪtɪ; ˈdiːɪ- /

noun

1. a god or goddess
2. the state of being divine; godhead
3. the rank, status, or position of a god
4. the nature or character of God

Deity

²

/ ˈdeɪtɪ; ˈdiːɪ- /

noun

1. the Deity
   the Supreme Being; God

Other Words From

• su·per·de·i·ty noun plural superdeities

Word History and Origins

Origin of deity¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English deite, from Old French, from Late Latin deitāt- (stem of deitās ), equivalent to Latin dei- (combining form of deus “god”) + -tāt- -ty ², formed after Latin dīvīnitās divinity

Word History and Origins

Origin of deity¹

C14: from Old French, from Late Latin deitās, from Latin deus god

Example Sentences

These ceremonies included visual and sonic iconographic elements of mythological deities of the Aztec underworld, which may also be symbolized in the Aztec death whistle.

From Science Daily

She also grew up in and remains a member of a cult called the Science of Identity Foundation whose leader is heralded by members as a deity in his own right.

From Salon

Her image is projected like that of a deity’s.

From Los Angeles Times

“I sat before the deity and told him he needed to find a solution and he gave it to me,” he said.

From BBC

Looking elegantly windblown in a sweater, her mass of hair cascading like the precious garland of some Irish deity, Farrow has a tendency to trail off in conversation.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• divinity
• idol
• immortal