almighty
UK[ɔːlˈmaɪti]US[ɔːlˈmaɪti]
adj
having complete power; omnipotent (often used to refer to god)
adj
(informal) enormous or very great
Morpheme Breakdown
all
mighty
all
entire, whole, every
mighty
having great power or strength
Etymology
the word "almighty" is a native english compound, formed from the old english elements eall (all) and mihtig (mighty, powerful). it was used as a direct translation of the latin omnipotens (all-powerful), particularly in a christian theological context to describe the supreme deity. the literal meaning, "possessing all power," perfectly encapsulates the concept of omnipotence. over time, its usage expanded informally to emphasize something of very great size or intensity, though its primary association remains with divine power.
Analysis
Structure: all + mighty
all (old english, meaning "entire, whole, every") + mighty (old english, from mihtig, meaning "having great power or strength")
Examples
almighty god is a central figure in many religious traditions.
the team made an almighty effort to win the championship.
there was an almighty crash when the shelves collapsed.