deity

/ˈdeɪ.ɪ.ti/ (bre, ipa) · [dˈiəti] /ˈdiː.ə.t̬i/ (ame, ipa) · [dˈiəti] /ˈdē-ə-tē ˈdā-/ (ame, mw)

deity — noun

  • deitysingular
  • deitiesplural

1. a powerful sacred being that people worship in a religion or mythology, often in

1.名詞C1
釋義

a powerful sacred being that people worship in a religion or mythology, often in connection with one part of life or nature.

例句

Children in the village left fruit for the river deity at dawn.

river deity in a worship scene

In the play, Esteban speaks to a sea deity before the storm.

sea deity in myth or drama

同義詞
  • god

    everyday word for a male or unspecified divine being; less formal than 'deity'

  • goddess

    specific to a female divine figure, so it is narrower than 'deity'

  • divinity

    formal word often used in theology or learned writing about divine beings

文法句型

a + deity

deity of [place/thing]

worship a deity

用法筆記

Often used in history, mythology, or comparative religion for one god among several. Use sense 2 when the context clearly means the single God of a monotheistic faith.

常見錯誤

❌Christians believe in many deities.
✅Ancient Romans believed in many deities.
💡this sense usually names one god within a set; for Christianity, 'God' or sense 2 is the normal choice.

2. the one highest God in a religion that teaches that a single divine ruler made a

2.名詞C1
釋義

the one highest God in a religion that teaches that a single divine ruler made and governs everything.

例句

In class, the teacher said the deity created the world and still rules it.

the deity as single creator

In their prayers, the family asked the deity for mercy and guidance.

同義詞
  • God

    the normal everyday word in monotheistic religious language

  • the Creator

    highlights the idea of God as maker of the world

  • the Lord

    common in prayer and scripture, with a stronger devotional tone

文法句型

the deity

deity as creator

pray to the deity

用法筆記

Usually singular and mainly found in formal or theological writing. Distinguish from sense 1: here the word points to the one supreme God, not one divine figure among several.