angel of death
The term "angel of death" refers to various representations of death across different contexts, including religion, mythology, fiction, and criminology.
Definition
C1Religion
(formal, spiritual)A supernatural being responsible for guiding the souls of the deceased to the afterlife.
Example
- In Islam, Azrael is known as the angel of death who transports souls after death.
- The malakh ha-mavet in Judaism is considered the angel of death.
C1Mythology and Folklore
(mythological, literary)A personification of death, often depicted as a grim figure who collects souls at the time of death.
Example
- The Grim Reaper is a common depiction of the angel of death in Western folklore.
- In Japanese mythology, a shinigami is a spirit often referred to as an angel of death.
B2Fiction and Art
(literary, artistic)A symbolic figure representing death, fate, or mortality, often used as a metaphor or character in stories.
Example
- In the TV series 'Lucifer,' Azrael is portrayed as an angel of death.
- The angel of death is a recurring theme in many gothic novels and artworks.
C1Criminology
(informal, criminal)A term used to describe healthcare professionals who murder their patients, often under the guise of caregiving.
Example
- Harold Shipman was infamously known as an angel of death due to his crimes.
- The term 'angel of death' is sometimes used to describe serial killers working in medical fields.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "angel of death":
guardian angelangel shotfallen angelangel makervalley of deathvalley of the shadow of deathangel wing