evangel

English

Etymology

From Middle English evaungel, evangile, from Old French evangile, from Late Latin evangelium, from Ancient Greek εὐαγγέλιον (euangélion, “good news”), from εὐάγγελος (euángelos, “bringing good news”), from εὖ (eû, “well”) + ἀγγέλλειν (angéllein, “to announce”) (English angel). The word gospel is from the same Ancient Greek origin, also meaning “good news”, but translated into Latin, then Old English.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪˈvænd͡ʒəl/

Noun

evangel (plural evangels)

1. The Christian gospel.
   • 1843 April, Thomas Carlyle, “ch. X, Plugson of Undershot”, in Past and Present, American edition, Boston, Mass.: Charles C[offin] Little and James Brown, published 1843, →OCLC, book III (The Modern Worker):

     If, at any time, a philosophy of Laissez-faire, Competition and Supply-and-demand, start up as the exponent of human relations, expect that it will soon end. […] Such philosophies will arise; be preached as Mammon-Gospels, the ultimate Evangel of the World […]

2. A salutary principle relating to morals, politics, etc.
3. An evangelist.

Related terms

• angel
• evangelism
• evangelist
• evangelization
• evangelize

Translations

The Christian gospel

• Bulgarian: евангелие (bg) n (evangelie)
• Ottoman Turkish: انجیل‎ (incil)

An evangelist

• Bulgarian: евангелист m (evangelist)

Further reading

• “evangel”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “evangel”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• evangel at OneLook Dictionary Search