almighty

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having unlimited power; omnipotent, especially as an epithet for God

   The hymn addresses God as almighty and eternal.

2. 2
   adj

   extremely great, severe, or impressive; informal

   An almighty crash from the kitchen woke everyone in the house.

3. 3
   adj

   having overwhelming influence or importance, often used ironically

   The satire mocks politicians who worship the almighty dollar.

From Middle English almyghty and Old English ealmihtig, 'all-powerful,' a compound corresponding to all + mighty. It began as a religious epithet translating Latin omnipotens. The later emphatic use, as in an almighty noise, generalizes the idea of limitless power to exceptional size or force.

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