Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Emanating from or pertaining to God; divine: Having the qualities of or being like God; holy.
   • Devoutly religious; pious: Showing great reverence for God and living a life in accordance with religious principles.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective (Divine):

  • They sought godly wisdom in making their decision.
  • The priest offered a prayer for godly intervention.

• Adjective (Pious):

  • She was known throughout the village as a godly woman.
  • He leads a quiet and godly life, devoted to prayer and charity.

Advanced Usage

• "the godly" (noun, plural): Used to refer to devout or religious people as a group.
  • The sermon was intended to inspire the godly to greater acts of compassion.

Variants and Related Words

• Godliness (noun): The quality of being godly; piety.

  • His life was a model of humility and godliness.

• Ungodly (adjective): 1. Not revering God; impious. 2. (Informal) Outrageous or unreasonable (e.g., an ungodly hour).

  • The cult was accused of ungodly practices.
  • I had to wake up at an ungodly hour to catch the flight.

Synonyms

• Pious: Devoutly religious.
• Devout: Having or showing deep religious feeling or commitment.
• Saintly: Very holy or virtuous.
• Divine: Of, from, or like God or a god.

Antonyms

• Ungodly: Wicked or impious.
• Irreligious: Indifferent or hostile to religion.
• Profane: Not respectful of religious practice; secular.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• God-fearing: Having a deep respect for God, often used similarly to 'godly'.
  • They were a god-fearing community.
• Lead a godly life: To live in a pious and morally upright manner.
  • His primary aim was to lead a godly life.

Adjective

1. emanating from God
   • divine judgment
   • divine guidance
   • everything is black or white...satanic or godly-Saturday Review
2. showing great reverence for god
   • a godly man
   • leading a godly life