God-almighty, n. and adv.
(gɒdɔːlˈmaɪtɪ)
Also 7– (colloq. and dial.) God-a-mighty.
A. n.
1. a. = god n. 5. (See also almighty, almight, almightin.)
| c 870 Codex Aureus Inscr. 15 in O.E. Texts 175 On Godes almaehtiᵹes noman. a 1000 Dream of Rood 39 Onᵹyrede hine þa ᵹeong hæleð, þæt wæs god ælmihtiᵹ. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 5 In swa muchele edmodnesse godal⁓mihti hine dude for us. a 1300 Cursor M. 179 (Gött.) Godd all-mightin Turnd water into win. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. iii. i. §10 Our hartie prayer vnto God almightie is, that [etc.]. 1604 Dekker 1st Pt. Honest Wh. (1635) I 3 b, Tell me, whither is he gone? Tow. Why to God a mighty. 1643 Digby Observ. Relig. Med. 29 Steered and levelled by God Almighty. 1864 Tennyson North. Farmer 45 Do godamoighty knaw what a's doing? |
b. In derisive use (with a and in pl.): One who poses, or is regarded by others, as omnipotent.
| [1609 C. Butler Fem. Mon. i. (1623) C 4, I haue read..How there were Bees so wise and skilful, as..to descrie a certain little God-a mightie, though he came among them in likeness of a Wafer-Cake.] 1682 Dryden Medal 110 This side to day, and that to morrow burns; So all are God-a'mighties in their turns. 1795 Wolcot (P. Pindar) Ode to French Wks. 1812 III. 354, I, in life's more early day, Deem'd Kings young God-almighties, form'd for sway. |
2. dial. (See quots.)
| 1847–78 Halliwell, God-Almighty's-Cow, the lady bird. 1886 Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk., God Almighty's bread and cheese, wood sorrel, Oxalis Acetosella. God Almighty's cock and hen [the robin and wren]. 1893 G. D. Leslie Lett. to Marco xiv. 95 note, An Oxford friend tells me of a curious name for woodlice current in Oxfordshire, namely ‘God Almighty's pigs’. |
B. adv. Extremely, excessively.
| 1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands vii. 85 It's that go'lmighty funny I can't laugh..'n' I'm dyin' to. 1923 D. H. Lawrence Kangaroo viii. 164 Why should people..be so God-Almighty puffed up? |