Meaning & use
seraph
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Meanings
nouncountablereligion
An angel of the highest rank, described in old religious writings as having six wings and standing closest to God.
Grammar: The plural is usually seraphim, though seraphs also occurs.
Patterns
- a seraph of something
In the vision, a seraph touched the prophet's lips with a glowing coal.
The cathedral ceiling shows a seraph with six golden wings.
Artists often paint a seraph surrounded by flames of light.
nouncountableliteraryfigurative
A person of great beauty or purity, as if from heaven.
Grammar: Literary and figurative; used to praise someone's angelic look or manner.
Patterns
- a seraph in something
The poet called her a seraph in a plain gray dress.
With his white hair glowing in the sun, he looked like a seraph.
Word forms
| plural | seraphim |
|---|---|
| plural (variant) | seraphs |
Common combinations
- six-winged seraph
- The mosaic shows a six-winged seraph above the altar.
- choir of seraphim
- Medieval texts describe a choir of seraphim singing around the throne.
- seraph and cherub
- The window had a seraph and a cherub carved in glass.
- fiery seraph
- The painting shows a fiery seraph bursting from the clouds.
- a seraph's voice
- The singer was praised for a seraph's voice.
Synonyms and how they differ
- angel
- Angel is the everyday word for any heavenly being, while seraph names the very highest rank.
- cherub
- A cherub is a lower-ranking angel, often shown as a child, whereas a seraph is more fiery and awe-inspiring.
- archangel
- Archangel is a chief angel such as Michael, a different rank from the seraphim.
- celestial being
- Celestial being is a formal, general phrase for any heavenly creature.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: seraph or cherub? seraph or serf?
seraph vs cherub
A cherub is a lower class of angel, often shown as a plump child, while a seraph ranks highest.
seraph vs serf
A serf was a farm laborer bound to land in medieval times, unrelated to angels.
Practice
Which phrase correctly gives the plural of seraph in its traditional form?
Choose one answer.
The traditional plural is seraphim, from Hebrew. Seraphs is also accepted, but the other forms are not valid spellings of the plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “seraph”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.