godfather, godfader

[A. S. godfæder; gevatter.] I. Ordinary Language: 1. Lit.: In the same sense as II. *2. Figuratively: (1) One who gives a name to any person or thing. "These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights, That give a name to every fixed star." Shakesp.: Love's Labor's Lost, i. 1. (2) An old jocular name for a juryman. II. Ecclesiol. & Ch. Hist .: The appellation, derived from Anglo Saxon, for one of the sponsors who take vows upon themselves when they bring an infant to be baptized. Their first appointment is *god, v . t . [GOD, s.] To deify; to exalt to divine attributed to Hyginus, a Roman bishop, about A. D. honors; to act toward as a god. "This last old man Loved me above the measure of a father, Nay, godded me, indeed." Shakesp.: Coriolanus , v. 3. *god-ard, s. [GOTER, GUTTER.] A channel, a drain. "Go het through godardys and other grete vautes." Destruction of Troy , 1,606. *god-běrt, s. [Etym. doubtful.] A hauberk. 154, his object being to provide some security for the Christian uprearing of the child if the parents were cut off in a persecution then in progre . Some, however, think that the Jews had sponsors in connection with the circumcision of children; others that their introduction into the Church arose from the legislation of the Roman civil code. In 813 the Council of Metz prohibited parents from acting as sponsors for their children. The Council of Trent, in 1545, limited the number of sponsors to one or two. pine, pit, sire, sir, marine; gō, pot, godfather *god-fa-ther, v. t . [GODFATHER, 8.]. To act as godfather to; to take under one's fostering care. "The colonies which have had the fortune of not being godfathered by the Board of Trade, have never cost the nation a shilling."-Burke: On the Economical Reform. *god-fa-ther-le , a . [Eng. godfather ; -le .] Having no godfather. *god-fa-ther-ship, s. [Eng. godfather; -ship .] The position, condition, or state of a godfather. God-fear-ing, a. [Eng. God , and fearing .] Hav. ing a reverential and loving feeling toward God; religious. "That sober, resolute, and God fearing cla , out of which Cromwell had formed his unconquerable army."- Macau lay: Hist. Eng . , ch. xii. God-for-sāk-en, a. Desolate. "The most Godforsaken territory."-New York Sun, March 19, 1894. God-head (1), *God-hed, *God-hede (1), s. [Eng. God ; -head ; O. H. Ger. Go the it ; M. H. Ger. Goteheit; Dut. Godheid.] 1. The quality or state of being God; Godship divinity; divine nature or e ence. "They now are deemed the faithful, and are praised, Who, constant only in rejecting thee, Deny thy Godhead with a martyr's zeal." 2. The Supreme Deity; God. Cowper: Task , vi. 883. IMG:content-0596.png:[blocks in formation] height, Pure and serene, the godhead overlook Winding Euphrates." Words worth: Excursion, bk. iv. god-head (2), *god-hede (2), s. [Mid. Eng. god =good; -head ; M. H. Ger. guotheit ; Dut. goedheid; Dan. & Sw. godhed .] Goodne . "Ibore bifore God thi godhede."-Leben Jesu, 142. God-hood, s. [Eng. God; -hood.] The state or quality of God; divine nature or e ence; godhead, godship. "Accept my simple legacie of Godhood most deuine." Warner: Albions England, bk. iii., ch. xvi. God-Ild, God-ield, phr . [A contrac. of God yield (=requite) (you).] A phrase used in giving thanks. " Godild you for your company." -Shakesp.: As You Like It, iii. 8.