almightyadj.n.adv.

Brit.

/ɔːlˈmʌɪti/, U.S.

/ɔlˈmaɪdi/,

/ɑlˈmaɪdi/

Forms: early Old English ællmęhtig (Kentish), early Old English aelmaehtgan (genitive singular, weak declension), early Old English ælmæhtig (Kentish), early Old English ælmeahteg, early Old English ælmehteg, early Old English ælmiehteg, early Old English ælmiehtig, early Old English ælmihgan (dative singular, weak declension, perhaps transmission error), early Old English allmectig (Northumbrian), early Old English allmehtig (non-West Saxon), early Old English almaehtig, early Old English almeahtig, early Old English almegttig (runic), early Old English elmehtig (Kentish), Old English ælfmihtig (rare), Old English ælfmihtine (accusative singular masculine, rare), Old English ællmihtig (rare), Old English ælmeahtig (rare), Old English ælmehtig (rare), Old English ælmigtig (rare), Old English ælmihteg, Old English ælmihtig, Old English ælmihttig (rare), Old English ælmihtyg (rare), Old English ælmitigum (dative singular masculine, transmission error), Old English ælmyhteg (rare), Old English ælmyhtig, Old English ælmyhtyg (rare), Old English allmaehtig (Northumbrian), Old English allmæhtig (Northumbrian), Old English almæhtig (rare), Old English almahtig (non-West Saxon), Old English eallmihtig (rare), Old English ealmihti (rare), Old English ealmihtig, Old English hælmihtig (rare), Old English–early Middle English ælmihti, Old English (rare)–early Middle English almihtig, Old English (rare)–Middle English almihti, late Old English ælmichtig, late Old English ælmigti, late Old English ælmihtih (perhaps transmission error), late Old English ælmilhtiges (genitive singular masculine, transmission error), late Old English ælmyhti, late Old English ealmigtig, late Old English ealmigtinne (accusative singular masculine), late Old English–early Middle English elmihtig, early Middle English ælmihtiȝ, early Middle English allmahhtiȝ ( Ormulum), early Middle English almihgti, early Middle English almihtiȝ, early Middle English almitiȝne (accusative singular masculine, transmission error), early Middle English almiyti, early Middle English ealmihty, early Middle English elmichti, Middle English allemyghty, Middle English allmyhty, Middle English allmythy, Middle English almigti (in copy of Old English charter), Middle English almiȝti, Middle English almihtie, Middle English almihty, Middle English almyȝti, Middle English almyȝtty, Middle English almyȝty, Middle English almyhti, Middle English almyhty, Middle English almythty, Middle English almyty, Middle English–1500s allmyghty, Middle English–1500s allmythi, Middle English–1500s allmyty, Middle English–1500s almyghty, Middle English– allmighty, Middle English– almighty, 1500s allmihty, 1500s allmyhti, 1500s almyghtie, 1500s almyghttye, 1500s almyhtye, 1500s almythy, 1500s almytty, 1500s–1600s allmightie, 1500s–1600s almightie, 1500s–1600s almightye, 1600s allmightye, 1600s allmitti, 1900s– almichty (Irish English (northern)), 1900s– amighty (nonstandard); also Scottish pre-1700 allmightie, pre-1700 allmychty, pre-1700 almichtie, pre-1700 almightie, pre-1700 almychti, pre-1700 almychtie, pre-1700 almychty, pre-1700 almythty, pre-1700 1700s– almichty, 1900s– a'michty.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic; modelled on a Latin lexical item.

Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Old Frisian ellemachtich , Old Dutch alamahtig (attested as alamehtig , apparently showing influence from Old English; Middle Dutch almachtich , almechtich , Dutch almachtig ), Old Saxon alomahtig (Middle Low German almechtich ), Old High German alamahtig , almahtig (Middle High German almehtec , German allmächtig ), Old Icelandic almáttigr < the Germanic base of all adj. (see note) + the Germanic base of mighty adj., probably after classical Latin omnipotēns omnipotent adj. (compare alwaldend n.). Compare also (ultimately < Middle Low German) Old Swedish almäktogher (Swedish †allmäktig , now allsmäktig ), Old Danish almæctugh (Danish almægtig ). Compare almight adj., almightin adj., almightend adj.Apparently originally formed with the combining form of the Germanic base of all adj. and showing secondary substitution of forms of all adv.; in Old English the spelling æl- predominates (see discussion at all adj., pron., n., adv., and conj.). Forms such as West Saxon almeahtig , Anglian almæhtig show (in the second syllable) the reflex of West Germanic a (after breaking and, in the case of Anglian, smoothing) without i-mutation; compare the α. forms at mighty adj., n., and adv. and might n.¹ (see also the discussion at -y suffix¹). With the unusual non-West Saxon form almahtig compare maht at α. forms at might n.¹ and see A. Campbell Old Eng. Gram. (1959) §145, R. M. Hogg Gram. Old Eng. (1992) I. §5.20 note 3. In Middle English forms without mutation survive only in allmahhtiȝ in the Ormulum. In the Old English runic form almegttig in the early Northumbrian inscription on the Ruthwell Cross, the fifth rune is the yew rune, which is variously transcribed as h , g , ȝ , or ɨ , and which occurs in Anglo-Saxon runic inscriptions with different sound values. However, it is generally agreed that it is here used to denote the expected voiceless fricative (see R. I. Page in Medium Aevum 37 (1968) 129, and also R. I. Page Introd. Eng. Runes (ed. 2, 1999) 47, 148); the Old English forms allmectig , ælmigtig similarly are scribal representations of the voiceless palatal fricative before -t- . The doubling of consonants shown by almegttig occurs also in other runic documents and is apparently not significant. A form allmechtig occurs in late continental copies of the early Northumbrian text of Cædmon's Hymn (Dijon, Bibliothèque municipale 574 (12th cent.) and Paris, Bibliothèque nationale, Lat. 5237 (early 15th cent.)); while it is a possible early Northumbrian spelling, it might also show the influence of Middle Low German or Middle High German in these manuscripts. Occasional forms such as ælfmihtig (attested only in MS Corpus Cambr. 320) perhaps show an inverse spelling reflecting the simplification of elf n.¹ as first element in compounds (only in personal names, e.g. Ælwine (for Ælfwine ), Ælstan (for Ælfstan ), etc.), or alternatively may show a folk-etymological substitution for the combining form æl- as indicating association with supernatural elements; compare similar forms of althedy adj. and see discussion in A. Hall Elves in Anglo-Saxon Eng. (2007) 182–3. In Middle English and in early modern English sometimes written as two words, e.g. (in Middle English) al mytty, all myhty, (in 16th cent.) alle myty, all mitye. In modern English also occasionally written as all mighty or all-mighty.

A. adj.

I. Omnipotent; having great power, size, etc.

1. All-powerful, omnipotent.

a. Designating a god, esp. the Christian God or Christ. Frequently in collocation with God, or a title of God, as pre- or postmodifier. See also God almighty n. 1.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > nature or attributes of God > [adjective] > powerful or omnipotent

almightyeOE

almightOE

almightinlOE

almightendc1250

almightfulc1300

omnipotentc1330

almightiful?a1475

omnipotentiary1659

eOE (Kentish) Psalm 50 (Vesp. D.vi) 85 Ahwerf nu fram synnum, saula neriend, and fram misdedum minra gylta þine ansione, ælmeahtig god.

OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxii. 361 On cristes acennednysse wearþ se ælmihtiga godes sunu to menniscum men gedoon.

OE Charter: Æðelred & Æðelflæd to St. Peter's, Worcester (Sawyer 223) (transcript of damaged MS) in F. E. Harmer Sel. Eng. Hist. Docs. 9th & 10th Cent. (1914) 23 Æðelræd & Æðelflæd..on Godes ealmihtiges naman halsiað ealle heora æfterfylgendan þæt nænig mon ðæs ælmæssan ne wanige.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 95 Biforenn crist all mahhtiȝ godd.

c1300 Life & Martyrdom Thomas Becket (Harl. 2277) (1845) l. 1042 Ȝe honuryeth more an urthlich king than ȝe God almiȝti do.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 1 (MED) Lhord ihesu, almiȝti kyng, þet madest and lokest alle þyng.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 5741 (MED) O thou, almyhty Jupiter.

1418 H. Chichele in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. I. 4 Blessud be Almyȝty God.

1480 R. Good Let. 24 June in Cely Lett. (1975) 83 Dysyryng euermore to ȝer of your welfare, the [which] allmythy Jhesu preser hyt to hys plesyr and to your most hartys desyre, etc.

?a1525 (?a1475) Play Sacrament l. 149 in N. Davis Non-Cycle Plays & Fragm. (1970) 62 Almyghty Machomet.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ecclus. l. 20 To geue thankes to Allmightie God.

1611 Bible (King James) Gen. xvii. 1 I am the almightie God, walke before me.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iii. 59 The Almighty Father..bent down his eye, His own works and their works at once to view.

1733 A. Pope Ess. Man i. 149 The wise Almighty Cause..acts by gen'ral Laws.

1794 S. T. Coleridge Coll. Lett. (1956) I. 121 May the Almighty Pantisocratizer of Souls pantisocratize the Earth, and bless you.

1822 Methodist Mag. June 222 The Almighty Creator, whose goodness abounds to all his creatures.

1864 Ld. Tennyson Enoch Arden in Enoch Arden, etc. 43 O God Almighty, blessed Saviour.

1923 Times 9 June 10/5 If Almighty God had populated the world with Robots, legislation of this sort might have been reasonable.

1945 Gazette (Montreal) 19 Apr. 9/2 There is none other than Thyself, Almighty Ruler of the Universe,..able to bring to naught the counsels of evil men.

1998 N. Hornby About Boy (1999) xxx. 232 He would have taken it as a sign from Almighty God that he was about to get laid.

b. Designating an attribute, action, etc., of a god, esp. the Christian God or Christ.

ΚΠ

OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxxix. 520 He com to us þa ða he genam ure gecynd to his ælmihtigan godcundnysse.

OE Homily: Larspell (Corpus Cambr. 419) in A. S. Napier Wulfstan (1883) 240 Hwy noldest ðu..biddan þe arfulle þingeras wið þone ælmihtigan þrym þære halgan þrynnesse?

c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Royal) (1934) 11 (MED) Ne his swote sauur, ne his al-mihti mihte..ne mei neauer lutlin.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) Prol. l. 585 (MED) The hyhe almyhti pourveance.

1496 Rote or Myrour Consolacyon & Conforte (de Worde) sig. Fv Meke your selfe vnder the almyghty hande of god & he shall exalte you.

1594 G. Gifford Treat. True Fortitude sig. B1^v Hee vseth by his almighty power and wisedom, al maner of instruments to execute his will.

1631 R. Bolton Instr. Right Comf. Affl. Consciences 121 The Almighty wisedome of Him that did create it [sc. the soul].

1683 J. Dryden Life Plutarch 38 in J. Dryden et al. tr. Plutarch Lives I The Unity of a Godhead, whom according to his Attributes, he calls by several names, as Jupiter from his Almighty Power.

1743 J. Willison Afflicted Man's Compan. viii. 212 God hath made and fashioned all the children of men with his almighty hand.

1778 J. Fellows Hist. Holy Bible I. 234 Before the Lord with joy they eat, And his Almighty deeds repeat.

1836 W. Symington On Atonement & Intercession Jesus Christ (ed. 2) ii. i. 355 That his Almighty love may be displayed, his sovereign decree fulfilled.

1882 W. Smith Smaller Classical Mythol. (ed. 7) iv. 19 The almighty power of Zeus, and his absolute supremacy over the other gods.

1901 W. St. Clair-Tisdall India 80 The one attribute of God which to the Muslim mind towers above..all others, is His almighty Power.

1962 G. R. Beasley-Murray Baptism in New Test. v. 291 Sin and death..will not be eradicated till the Christ steps forth and utters his almighty word.

2009 E. Hopkins Tricks 16 Maybe kissing like this will bring God's almighty wrath crashing down all around us.

a. More generally: having great or pre-eminent strength, vigour, or power; (also) wielding supreme authority or influence.In quot. 1598 as n.: the greatest, the most powerful; cf. B.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > power > [adjective] > all-powerful

almightOE

all-wieldingOE

almightendc1250

almightfulc1300

compotent1391

almightyc1405

almightiful?a1475

cunctipotentc1485

omnipotenta1522

all-commanding1596

all-powerful1597

omnivalent1602

super-omnivalent1602

omniprevalenta1661

unzoned1662

omnivalous1773

pantocratic1949

c1405 (c1375) G. Chaucer Monk's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 54 O noble almyghty [c1410 Harl. almighty] Sampsoun.

1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 645 The Armipotent Mars, of Launces the almighty .

1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida v. ii. 176 Constringd in Masse by the almighty sunne.

1648 Mercurius Psitacus No. 4. 2 The Almighty and most unmercifull Commons..have commanded an old Ordinance to be new printed.

a1720 J. Hughes Poems on Several Occasions (1735) I. 71 I own thy Pow'r, Almighty Love! I'm thine.

1782 W. Cowper Hope in Poems 174 Insensible of Truth's almighty charms.

1817 Ld. Byron Manfred iii. iv I stood within the Coliseum's wall, 'Midst the chief relics of almighty Rome.

1863 W. Phillips Speeches iii. 45 I hail the almighty power of the tongue.

1917 R. Hughes We can't have Everything iii. xiv. 606 The Russian revolution abruptly changed the almighty Czar into a weeping prisoner digging snow.

1973 S. Somekh Changing Rhythm iv. 117 To his household he is almighty, infallible.

2007 Daily Tel. 31 Oct. 30/1 Over here we frown on anything that might hinder the progress of the almighty automobile.

b. spec. Chiefly U.S. With reference to money as an overwhelmingly powerful force in human affairs. Esp. in almighty dollar.

ΚΠ

1836 W. Irving in N.-Y. Mirror 4 Nov. 145/2 The almighty dollar, that great object of universal devotion throughout our land.

1842 C. Dickens Amer. Notes I. iii. 63 The almighty dollar sinks into something comparatively insignificant.

1891 F. W. Bain Antichrist ii. 104 A mere conglomeration of fortune hunters, worshipping the Almighty Dollar.

1947 Time 16 June 33/1 There is a limit to the sacrifices some Britons would make for the sake of the almighty greenback.

1964 R. O. Hirson Journey to Day i. ii. 24 And that's all there is to it, huh? The buck. The almighty buck.

1996 Chicago Tribune 24 Nov. iii. 13/1 We call the players fickle for forgoing loyalty and chasing the almighty dollar.

3. colloquial (originally North American). Of high intensity or degree; very great; enormous; considerable, outright, complete. Cf. mighty adj. 3.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective]

mickleeOE

wideOE

largec1300

greata1325

muchc1330

mightyc1390

millionc1390

dreicha1400

rudea1450

massive1581

massy1588

heavy1728

magnitudinous1777

powerful1800

almighty1824

tall1842

hefty1930

honking1943

mondo1968

1824 E. A. Talbot Five Years' Resid. Canadas I. iii. 47 You old-country folk think it such an almighty disgrace for a lady to have a child before she is married, that [etc.].

1839 Burton's Gentleman's Mag. Dec. 291 In comes a huge marman of the most almighty size, lookin' jest like Black Hawk when he was bilious.

1845 T. J. Green Jrnl. Texian Exped. 91 Yonder is the almightiest fight you ever did see.

1851 T. De Quincey Lit. Reminisc. I. v. 140 Such rubbish—such ‘almighty’ nonsense (to speak transatlanticè)—no eye has ever beheld.

1930 J. Buchan Castle Gay iv. 71 Here's our chance... Show him up for the almighty fool he is.

1952 ‘E. C. R. Lorac’ Murder in Mill-race v. 52 The woman's death has been an almighty relief to the lot of them.

2007 Now 21 May 69/2 We were at a party and had an almighty row, so I stayed the night at a friend's.

II. In the comparative and superlative, in specific senses.

a. In the superlative (almightiest, most almighty), in the sense ‘mightiest of all’.Cf. also the use of the superlative in quots. 1839, 1845 at sense A. 3.

ΚΠ

OE Prayers (Arundel 155) xxiii, in Anglia (1941) 65 249 Tuam nunc, omnipotentissime ac piissime deus, ineffabilem pietatem..exoro: þine nu ælmihtigusta & arfæstusta God unasecgendlice arfæstnesse..ic bidde.

c1450 T. Haseley Petition in J. H. Fisher et al. Anthol. Chancery Eng. (1984) 188 With help and grace of most almyghty god youre seid seruiteur toke hym and arested hym atte mydnyght in a place beside your Castell of Wyndesore.

1534 G. Joye Subuersion Moris False Found. f. liiii It was wryten of the moste almighty God to endure for euer.

1709 W. Reeves tr. Justin Martyr et al. Apol. I. 285 For thus many among you have ranged the Gods, so as to vest the supreme Power in one only, and make the Rest Subaltern Gods, and Under-officers merely to this Almightiest of Deities.

1885 R. Bridges Eros & Psyche viii. 99 Wherein the Cretan-born, almightiest god, Cloud-gathering Zeus himself had seem'd to nod.

2003 Mirror (Nexis) 29 Dec. 49 The devout Christian turned down a £250,000 move to Tannadice in the summer after divine intervention by the Almightiest of agents.

b. In the comparative (almightier, more almighty) in the senses ‘mightier than all’ or ‘more nearly approaching the state of being almighty’.

ΚΠ

1630 W. Gouge Expos. Fifth Chapter St. Iohns Gospell 38 The Doctrine is, that Christs miracles which hee did, were but euidences of a farre greater, and more almighty power.

1695 L. P. Two Ess. 41 Nature, or the Almightier Governor of the Universe.

1782 Remembrancer 14 342/2 An almightier power..that constitutional spirit, which is the secret stay and security on which the fabric of our government rests.

1918 Med. Art & Indianapolis Med. Jrnl. Sept. 441/1 And thit Gawd is almightier thin the Divil; and thit Gawd did once lock the Divll up in Hell.

1931 R. Haig-Brown in V. Haig-Brown Woods & River Tales (1980) v. 58 Johnny was..a throwback to some primeval ancestor, made almightier and more rugged by the environment of huge trees, huge forests, and huge mountains.

B. n.

Chiefly with the and capital initial. (A title of) God. Also in the superlative (rare).

ΘΚΠ

the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > [noun] > as ruler

God almightyeOE

kingeOE

waldendeOE

almightyOE

heaven kingOE

dihtendec1200

rectora1513

omnipotent1562

almight?1580

Pantocrator1759

Goramighty1816

OE Beowulf (2008) 92 Cwæð þæt se ælmihtiga eorðan worh[te].

OE Ælfric Homily (Cambr. Ii.4.6) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1967) I. 362 Se bisceop..bæd þa þone ælmihtigan, þe mæg þæt he wile, þæt he ahofe þone munt.

c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Royal) (1981) l. 457 As þah þe al-mihti ne mahte nawt þeos twa misliche cundes gederin to-gederes.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1963) Ruth i. 20 Wiþ bittyrnesse myche þe almyȝty haþ fulfild me.

?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 358 (MED) Ye ben messager of all myhty.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Job vi. 4 The allmighty hath shott at me with his arowes.

1568 H. Charteris Pref. Lyndesay's Wks. in J. A. H. Murray Minor Poems D. Lyndesay (1871) 11* The protectioun of ye Almychtie, our God.

1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. vii. 235 Man (but Image of th' Almightiest) Without these gifts is not a Man, but Beast.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 566 To know More of th' Almighties works.

1716 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad II. vii. 215 Grant thou Almighty! in whose Hand is Fate, A worthy Champion.

1795 M. More Jrnl. in A. Roberts Mendip Ann. (1859) 151 An honest hogler is as good in the eyes of the Almighty as an honest squire.

1831 H. J. C. Blake Reminisc. Eton 49 That day was a glorious one: it was one of the Almighty's most beautiful of the creation.

1878 E. White Life in Christ (ed. 3) 108 The same words are used by the Almighty in threatening Abimelech.

1936 M. R. Anand Coolie v. 312 He thought that it was the blessing of the Almighty that he sat comfortably, being carried in a motor car.

1996 R. Mistry Fine Balance (1997) i. 20 Only the Almighty's help gave him the strength to go forward in his duty.

C. adv.

colloquial (chiefly North American). Very; greatly; extremely; = mighty adv. 1.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > very

tooc888

swith971

wellOE

fullOE

rightc1175

muchc1225

wellac1275

gainlya1375

endlyc1440

hard?1440

very1448

odda1500

great1535

jolly1549

fellc1600

veryvery1649

gooda1655

vastly1664

strange1667

bloody1676

ever so1686

heartily1727

real1771

precious1775

quarely1805

murry1818

très1819

freely1820

powerfula1822

gurt1824

almighty1830

heap1832

all-fired1833

gradely1850

real1856

bonny1857

heavens1858

veddy1859

canny1867

some1867

oh-so1881

storming1883

spanking1886

socking1896

hefty1898

velly1898

fair dinkum1904

plurry1907

Pygmalion1914

dinkum1915

beaucoup1918

dirty1920

molto1923

snorting1924

honking1929

hellishing1931

thumpingly1948

way1965

mega1966

mondo1968

seriously1970

totally1972

mucho1978

stonking1990

1830 J. Galt Lawrie Todd I. ii. v. 120 My wife, she's as the gentleman knows an almighty ambitious woman, and will have her kitchen as clean as her parlour.

1857 F. L. Olmsted Journey through Texas 222 They went out, and by and by came back almighty skeered.

1883 ‘M. Twain’ Lett. to Publishers 6 Jan. (1967) 161 I want it read almighty carefully in Boston.

1902 Williams Literary Monthly Feb. 336 It's almighty cold on the range.

1970 Boys' Life Sept. 20/1 That's an almighty strong pull. Help!

2008 S. King Just after Sunset (2009) 269 A nuke. And an almighty big one. No little dirty backpack model.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	almighty
释义	almightyadj.n.adv. Brit. /ɔːlˈmʌɪti/, U.S. /ɔlˈmaɪdi/, /ɑlˈmaɪdi/ Forms: early Old English ællmęhtig (Kentish), early Old English aelmaehtgan (genitive singular, weak declension), early Old English ælmæhtig (Kentish), early Old English ælmeahteg, early Old English ælmehteg, early Old English ælmiehteg, early Old English ælmiehtig, early Old English ælmihgan (dative singular, weak declension, perhaps transmission error), early Old English allmectig (Northumbrian), early Old English allmehtig (non-West Saxon), early Old English almaehtig, early Old English almeahtig, early Old English almegttig (runic), early Old English elmehtig (Kentish), Old English ælfmihtig (rare), Old English ælfmihtine (accusative singular masculine, rare), Old English ællmihtig (rare), Old English ælmeahtig (rare), Old English ælmehtig (rare), Old English ælmigtig (rare), Old English ælmihteg, Old English ælmihtig, Old English ælmihttig (rare), Old English ælmihtyg (rare), Old English ælmitigum (dative singular masculine, transmission error), Old English ælmyhteg (rare), Old English ælmyhtig, Old English ælmyhtyg (rare), Old English allmaehtig (Northumbrian), Old English allmæhtig (Northumbrian), Old English almæhtig (rare), Old English almahtig (non-West Saxon), Old English eallmihtig (rare), Old English ealmihti (rare), Old English ealmihtig, Old English hælmihtig (rare), Old English–early Middle English ælmihti, Old English (rare)–early Middle English almihtig, Old English (rare)–Middle English almihti, late Old English ælmichtig, late Old English ælmigti, late Old English ælmihtih (perhaps transmission error), late Old English ælmilhtiges (genitive singular masculine, transmission error), late Old English ælmyhti, late Old English ealmigtig, late Old English ealmigtinne (accusative singular masculine), late Old English–early Middle English elmihtig, early Middle English ælmihtiȝ, early Middle English allmahhtiȝ ( Ormulum), early Middle English almihgti, early Middle English almihtiȝ, early Middle English almitiȝne (accusative singular masculine, transmission error), early Middle English almiyti, early Middle English ealmihty, early Middle English elmichti, Middle English allemyghty, Middle English allmyhty, Middle English allmythy, Middle English almigti (in copy of Old English charter), Middle English almiȝti, Middle English almihtie, Middle English almihty, Middle English almyȝti, Middle English almyȝtty, Middle English almyȝty, Middle English almyhti, Middle English almyhty, Middle English almythty, Middle English almyty, Middle English–1500s allmyghty, Middle English–1500s allmythi, Middle English–1500s allmyty, Middle English–1500s almyghty, Middle English– allmighty, Middle English– almighty, 1500s allmihty, 1500s allmyhti, 1500s almyghtie, 1500s almyghttye, 1500s almyhtye, 1500s almythy, 1500s almytty, 1500s–1600s allmightie, 1500s–1600s almightie, 1500s–1600s almightye, 1600s allmightye, 1600s allmitti, 1900s– almichty (Irish English (northern)), 1900s– amighty (nonstandard); also Scottish pre-1700 allmightie, pre-1700 allmychty, pre-1700 almichtie, pre-1700 almightie, pre-1700 almychti, pre-1700 almychtie, pre-1700 almychty, pre-1700 almythty, pre-1700 1700s– almichty, 1900s– a'michty. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic; modelled on a Latin lexical item. Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Old Frisian ellemachtich , Old Dutch alamahtig (attested as alamehtig , apparently showing influence from Old English; Middle Dutch almachtich , almechtich , Dutch almachtig ), Old Saxon alomahtig (Middle Low German almechtich ), Old High German alamahtig , almahtig (Middle High German almehtec , German allmächtig ), Old Icelandic almáttigr < the Germanic base of all adj. (see note) + the Germanic base of mighty adj., probably after classical Latin omnipotēns omnipotent adj. (compare alwaldend n.). Compare also (ultimately < Middle Low German) Old Swedish almäktogher (Swedish †allmäktig , now allsmäktig ), Old Danish almæctugh (Danish almægtig ). Compare almight adj., almightin adj., almightend adj.Apparently originally formed with the combining form of the Germanic base of all adj. and showing secondary substitution of forms of all adv.; in Old English the spelling æl- predominates (see discussion at all adj., pron., n., adv., and conj.). Forms such as West Saxon almeahtig , Anglian almæhtig show (in the second syllable) the reflex of West Germanic a (after breaking and, in the case of Anglian, smoothing) without i-mutation; compare the α. forms at mighty adj., n., and adv. and might n.¹ (see also the discussion at -y suffix¹). With the unusual non-West Saxon form almahtig compare maht at α. forms at might n.¹ and see A. Campbell Old Eng. Gram. (1959) §145, R. M. Hogg Gram. Old Eng. (1992) I. §5.20 note 3. In Middle English forms without mutation survive only in allmahhtiȝ in the Ormulum. In the Old English runic form almegttig in the early Northumbrian inscription on the Ruthwell Cross, the fifth rune is the yew rune, which is variously transcribed as h , g , ȝ , or ɨ , and which occurs in Anglo-Saxon runic inscriptions with different sound values. However, it is generally agreed that it is here used to denote the expected voiceless fricative (see R. I. Page in Medium Aevum 37 (1968) 129, and also R. I. Page Introd. Eng. Runes (ed. 2, 1999) 47, 148); the Old English forms allmectig , ælmigtig similarly are scribal representations of the voiceless palatal fricative before -t- . The doubling of consonants shown by almegttig occurs also in other runic documents and is apparently not significant. A form allmechtig occurs in late continental copies of the early Northumbrian text of Cædmon's Hymn (Dijon, Bibliothèque municipale 574 (12th cent.) and Paris, Bibliothèque nationale, Lat. 5237 (early 15th cent.)); while it is a possible early Northumbrian spelling, it might also show the influence of Middle Low German or Middle High German in these manuscripts. Occasional forms such as ælfmihtig (attested only in MS Corpus Cambr. 320) perhaps show an inverse spelling reflecting the simplification of elf n.¹ as first element in compounds (only in personal names, e.g. Ælwine (for Ælfwine ), Ælstan (for Ælfstan ), etc.), or alternatively may show a folk-etymological substitution for the combining form æl- as indicating association with supernatural elements; compare similar forms of althedy adj. and see discussion in A. Hall Elves in Anglo-Saxon Eng. (2007) 182–3. In Middle English and in early modern English sometimes written as two words, e.g. (in Middle English) al mytty, all myhty, (in 16th cent.) alle myty, all mitye. In modern English also occasionally written as all mighty or all-mighty. A. adj. I. Omnipotent; having great power, size, etc. 1. All-powerful, omnipotent. a. Designating a god, esp. the Christian God or Christ. Frequently in collocation with God, or a title of God, as pre- or postmodifier. See also God almighty n. 1. ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > nature or attributes of God > [adjective] > powerful or omnipotent almightyeOE almightOE almightinlOE almightendc1250 almightfulc1300 omnipotentc1330 almightiful?a1475 omnipotentiary1659 eOE (Kentish) Psalm 50 (Vesp. D.vi) 85 Ahwerf nu fram synnum, saula neriend, and fram misdedum minra gylta þine ansione, ælmeahtig god. OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxii. 361 On cristes acennednysse wearþ se ælmihtiga godes sunu to menniscum men gedoon. OE Charter: Æðelred & Æðelflæd to St. Peter's, Worcester (Sawyer 223) (transcript of damaged MS) in F. E. Harmer Sel. Eng. Hist. Docs. 9th & 10th Cent. (1914) 23 Æðelræd & Æðelflæd..on Godes ealmihtiges naman halsiað ealle heora æfterfylgendan þæt nænig mon ðæs ælmæssan ne wanige. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 95 Biforenn crist all mahhtiȝ godd. c1300 Life & Martyrdom Thomas Becket (Harl. 2277) (1845) l. 1042 Ȝe honuryeth more an urthlich king than ȝe God almiȝti do. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 1 (MED) Lhord ihesu, almiȝti kyng, þet madest and lokest alle þyng. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 5741 (MED) O thou, almyhty Jupiter. 1418 H. Chichele in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. I. 4 Blessud be Almyȝty God. 1480 R. Good Let. 24 June in Cely Lett. (1975) 83 Dysyryng euermore to ȝer of your welfare, the [which] allmythy Jhesu preser hyt to hys plesyr and to your most hartys desyre, etc. ?a1525 (?a1475) Play Sacrament l. 149 in N. Davis Non-Cycle Plays & Fragm. (1970) 62 Almyghty Machomet. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ecclus. l. 20 To geue thankes to Allmightie God. 1611 Bible (King James) Gen. xvii. 1 I am the almightie God, walke before me. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iii. 59 The Almighty Father..bent down his eye, His own works and their works at once to view. View more context for this quotation 1733 A. Pope Ess. Man i. 149 The wise Almighty Cause..acts by gen'ral Laws. 1794 S. T. Coleridge Coll. Lett. (1956) I. 121 May the Almighty Pantisocratizer of Souls pantisocratize the Earth, and bless you. 1822 Methodist Mag. June 222 The Almighty Creator, whose goodness abounds to all his creatures. 1864 Ld. Tennyson Enoch Arden in Enoch Arden, etc. 43 O God Almighty, blessed Saviour. 1923 Times 9 June 10/5 If Almighty God had populated the world with Robots, legislation of this sort might have been reasonable. 1945 Gazette (Montreal) 19 Apr. 9/2 There is none other than Thyself, Almighty Ruler of the Universe,..able to bring to naught the counsels of evil men. 1998 N. Hornby About Boy (1999) xxx. 232 He would have taken it as a sign from Almighty God that he was about to get laid. b. Designating an attribute, action, etc., of a god, esp. the Christian God or Christ. ΚΠ OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxxix. 520 He com to us þa ða he genam ure gecynd to his ælmihtigan godcundnysse. OE Homily: Larspell (Corpus Cambr. 419) in A. S. Napier Wulfstan (1883) 240 Hwy noldest ðu..biddan þe arfulle þingeras wið þone ælmihtigan þrym þære halgan þrynnesse? c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Royal) (1934) 11 (MED) Ne his swote sauur, ne his al-mihti mihte..ne mei neauer lutlin. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) Prol. l. 585 (MED) The hyhe almyhti pourveance. 1496 Rote or Myrour Consolacyon & Conforte (de Worde) sig. Fv Meke your selfe vnder the almyghty hande of god & he shall exalte you. 1594 G. Gifford Treat. True Fortitude sig. B1^v Hee vseth by his almighty power and wisedom, al maner of instruments to execute his will. 1631 R. Bolton Instr. Right Comf. Affl. Consciences 121 The Almighty wisedome of Him that did create it [sc. the soul]. 1683 J. Dryden Life Plutarch 38 in J. Dryden et al. tr. Plutarch Lives I The Unity of a Godhead, whom according to his Attributes, he calls by several names, as Jupiter from his Almighty Power. 1743 J. Willison Afflicted Man's Compan. viii. 212 God hath made and fashioned all the children of men with his almighty hand. 1778 J. Fellows Hist. Holy Bible I. 234 Before the Lord with joy they eat, And his Almighty deeds repeat. 1836 W. Symington On Atonement & Intercession Jesus Christ (ed. 2) ii. i. 355 That his Almighty love may be displayed, his sovereign decree fulfilled. 1882 W. Smith Smaller Classical Mythol. (ed. 7) iv. 19 The almighty power of Zeus, and his absolute supremacy over the other gods. 1901 W. St. Clair-Tisdall India 80 The one attribute of God which to the Muslim mind towers above..all others, is His almighty Power. 1962 G. R. Beasley-Murray Baptism in New Test. v. 291 Sin and death..will not be eradicated till the Christ steps forth and utters his almighty word. 2009 E. Hopkins Tricks 16 Maybe kissing like this will bring God's almighty wrath crashing down all around us. 2. a. More generally: having great or pre-eminent strength, vigour, or power; (also) wielding supreme authority or influence.In quot. 1598 as n.: the greatest, the most powerful; cf. B. ΘΚΠ society > authority > power > [adjective] > all-powerful almightOE all-wieldingOE almightendc1250 almightfulc1300 compotent1391 almightyc1405 almightiful?a1475 cunctipotentc1485 omnipotenta1522 all-commanding1596 all-powerful1597 omnivalent1602 super-omnivalent1602 omniprevalenta1661 unzoned1662 omnivalous1773 pantocratic1949 c1405 (c1375) G. Chaucer Monk's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 54 O noble almyghty [c1410 Harl. almighty] Sampsoun. 1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 645 The Armipotent Mars, of Launces the almighty . View more context for this quotation 1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida v. ii. 176 Constringd in Masse by the almighty sunne. View more context for this quotation 1648 Mercurius Psitacus No. 4. 2 The Almighty and most unmercifull Commons..have commanded an old Ordinance to be new printed. a1720 J. Hughes Poems on Several Occasions (1735) I. 71 I own thy Pow'r, Almighty Love! I'm thine. 1782 W. Cowper Hope in Poems 174 Insensible of Truth's almighty charms. 1817 Ld. Byron Manfred iii. iv I stood within the Coliseum's wall, 'Midst the chief relics of almighty Rome. 1863 W. Phillips Speeches iii. 45 I hail the almighty power of the tongue. 1917 R. Hughes We can't have Everything iii. xiv. 606 The Russian revolution abruptly changed the almighty Czar into a weeping prisoner digging snow. 1973 S. Somekh Changing Rhythm iv. 117 To his household he is almighty, infallible. 2007 Daily Tel. 31 Oct. 30/1 Over here we frown on anything that might hinder the progress of the almighty automobile. b. spec. Chiefly U.S. With reference to money as an overwhelmingly powerful force in human affairs. Esp. in almighty dollar. ΚΠ 1836 W. Irving in N.-Y. Mirror 4 Nov. 145/2 The almighty dollar, that great object of universal devotion throughout our land. 1842 C. Dickens Amer. Notes I. iii. 63 The almighty dollar sinks into something comparatively insignificant. 1891 F. W. Bain Antichrist ii. 104 A mere conglomeration of fortune hunters, worshipping the Almighty Dollar. 1947 Time 16 June 33/1 There is a limit to the sacrifices some Britons would make for the sake of the almighty greenback. 1964 R. O. Hirson Journey to Day i. ii. 24 And that's all there is to it, huh? The buck. The almighty buck. 1996 Chicago Tribune 24 Nov. iii. 13/1 We call the players fickle for forgoing loyalty and chasing the almighty dollar. 3. colloquial (originally North American). Of high intensity or degree; very great; enormous; considerable, outright, complete. Cf. mighty adj. 3. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] mickleeOE wideOE largec1300 greata1325 muchc1330 mightyc1390 millionc1390 dreicha1400 rudea1450 massive1581 massy1588 heavy1728 magnitudinous1777 powerful1800 almighty1824 tall1842 hefty1930 honking1943 mondo1968 1824 E. A. Talbot Five Years' Resid. Canadas I. iii. 47 You old-country folk think it such an almighty disgrace for a lady to have a child before she is married, that [etc.]. 1839 Burton's Gentleman's Mag. Dec. 291 In comes a huge marman of the most almighty size, lookin' jest like Black Hawk when he was bilious. 1845 T. J. Green Jrnl. Texian Exped. 91 Yonder is the almightiest fight you ever did see. 1851 T. De Quincey Lit. Reminisc. I. v. 140 Such rubbish—such ‘almighty’ nonsense (to speak transatlanticè)—no eye has ever beheld. 1930 J. Buchan Castle Gay iv. 71 Here's our chance... Show him up for the almighty fool he is. 1952 ‘E. C. R. Lorac’ Murder in Mill-race v. 52 The woman's death has been an almighty relief to the lot of them. 2007 Now 21 May 69/2 We were at a party and had an almighty row, so I stayed the night at a friend's. II. In the comparative and superlative, in specific senses. 4. a. In the superlative (almightiest, most almighty), in the sense ‘mightiest of all’.Cf. also the use of the superlative in quots. 1839, 1845 at sense A. 3. ΚΠ OE Prayers (Arundel 155) xxiii, in Anglia (1941) 65 249 Tuam nunc, omnipotentissime ac piissime deus, ineffabilem pietatem..exoro: þine nu ælmihtigusta & arfæstusta God unasecgendlice arfæstnesse..ic bidde. c1450 T. Haseley Petition in J. H. Fisher et al. Anthol. Chancery Eng. (1984) 188 With help and grace of most almyghty god youre seid seruiteur toke hym and arested hym atte mydnyght in a place beside your Castell of Wyndesore. 1534 G. Joye Subuersion Moris False Found. f. liiii It was wryten of the moste almighty God to endure for euer. 1709 W. Reeves tr. Justin Martyr et al. Apol. I. 285 For thus many among you have ranged the Gods, so as to vest the supreme Power in one only, and make the Rest Subaltern Gods, and Under-officers merely to this Almightiest of Deities. 1885 R. Bridges Eros & Psyche viii. 99 Wherein the Cretan-born, almightiest god, Cloud-gathering Zeus himself had seem'd to nod. 2003 Mirror (Nexis) 29 Dec. 49 The devout Christian turned down a £250,000 move to Tannadice in the summer after divine intervention by the Almightiest of agents. b. In the comparative (almightier, more almighty) in the senses ‘mightier than all’ or ‘more nearly approaching the state of being almighty’. ΚΠ 1630 W. Gouge Expos. Fifth Chapter St. Iohns Gospell 38 The Doctrine is, that Christs miracles which hee did, were but euidences of a farre greater, and more almighty power. 1695 L. P. Two Ess. 41 Nature, or the Almightier Governor of the Universe. 1782 Remembrancer 14 342/2 An almightier power..that constitutional spirit, which is the secret stay and security on which the fabric of our government rests. 1918 Med. Art & Indianapolis Med. Jrnl. Sept. 441/1 And thit Gawd is almightier thin the Divil; and thit Gawd did once lock the Divll up in Hell. 1931 R. Haig-Brown in V. Haig-Brown Woods & River Tales (1980) v. 58 Johnny was..a throwback to some primeval ancestor, made almightier and more rugged by the environment of huge trees, huge forests, and huge mountains. B. n. Chiefly with the and capital initial. (A title of) God. Also in the superlative (rare). ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > [noun] > as ruler God almightyeOE kingeOE waldendeOE almightyOE heaven kingOE dihtendec1200 rectora1513 omnipotent1562 almight?1580 Pantocrator1759 Goramighty1816 OE Beowulf (2008) 92 Cwæð þæt se ælmihtiga eorðan worh[te]. OE Ælfric Homily (Cambr. Ii.4.6) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1967) I. 362 Se bisceop..bæd þa þone ælmihtigan, þe mæg þæt he wile, þæt he ahofe þone munt. c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Royal) (1981) l. 457 As þah þe al-mihti ne mahte nawt þeos twa misliche cundes gederin to-gederes. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1963) Ruth i. 20 Wiþ bittyrnesse myche þe almyȝty haþ fulfild me. ?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 358 (MED) Ye ben messager of all myhty. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Job vi. 4 The allmighty hath shott at me with his arowes. 1568 H. Charteris Pref. Lyndesay's Wks. in J. A. H. Murray Minor Poems D. Lyndesay (1871) 11* The protectioun of ye Almychtie, our God. 1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. vii. 235 Man (but Image of th' Almightiest) Without these gifts is not a Man, but Beast. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 566 To know More of th' Almighties works. View more context for this quotation 1716 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad II. vii. 215 Grant thou Almighty! in whose Hand is Fate, A worthy Champion. 1795 M. More Jrnl. in A. Roberts Mendip Ann. (1859) 151 An honest hogler is as good in the eyes of the Almighty as an honest squire. 1831 H. J. C. Blake Reminisc. Eton 49 That day was a glorious one: it was one of the Almighty's most beautiful of the creation. 1878 E. White Life in Christ (ed. 3) 108 The same words are used by the Almighty in threatening Abimelech. 1936 M. R. Anand Coolie v. 312 He thought that it was the blessing of the Almighty that he sat comfortably, being carried in a motor car. 1996 R. Mistry Fine Balance (1997) i. 20 Only the Almighty's help gave him the strength to go forward in his duty. C. adv. colloquial (chiefly North American). Very; greatly; extremely; = mighty adv. 1. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > very tooc888 swith971 wellOE wellOE fullOE rightc1175 muchc1225 wellac1275 gainlya1375 endlyc1440 hard?1440 very1448 odda1500 great1535 jolly1549 fellc1600 veryvery1649 gooda1655 vastly1664 strange1667 bloody1676 ever so1686 heartily1727 real1771 precious1775 quarely1805 murry1818 très1819 freely1820 powerfula1822 gurt1824 almighty1830 heap1832 all-fired1833 gradely1850 real1856 bonny1857 heavens1858 veddy1859 canny1867 some1867 oh-so1881 storming1883 spanking1886 socking1896 hefty1898 velly1898 fair dinkum1904 plurry1907 Pygmalion1914 dinkum1915 beaucoup1918 dirty1920 molto1923 snorting1924 honking1929 hellishing1931 thumpingly1948 way1965 mega1966 mondo1968 seriously1970 totally1972 mucho1978 stonking1990 1830 J. Galt Lawrie Todd I. ii. v. 120 My wife, she's as the gentleman knows an almighty ambitious woman, and will have her kitchen as clean as her parlour. 1857 F. L. Olmsted Journey through Texas 222 They went out, and by and by came back almighty skeered. 1883 ‘M. Twain’ Lett. to Publishers 6 Jan. (1967) 161 I want it read almighty carefully in Boston. 1902 Williams Literary Monthly Feb. 336 It's almighty cold on the range. 1970 Boys' Life Sept. 20/1 That's an almighty strong pull. Help! 2008 S. King Just after Sunset (2009) 269 A nuke. And an almighty big one. No little dirty backpack model. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < adj.n.adv.eOE
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