god-man
UK[ˈɡɒdˌmæn]US[ˈɡɑːdˌmæn]
n
A being that is both divine and human, especially in Christian theology, referring to Jesus Christ.
n
A person, especially a religious leader, who is regarded as having divine qualities or as being an incarnation of a god.
Morpheme Breakdown
god
man
god
deity
man
human being
Etymology
The compound 'god-man' is a straightforward combination of two ancient Germanic nouns, 'god' and 'man', to create a theological concept. The Old English 'god' is traceable to the Proto-Germanic 'gudą', likely derived from the Proto-Indo-European root 'ǵʰutós', meaning "that which is invoked," related to the act of pouring libations in ritual sacrifice. 'Man' originates from Proto-Germanic 'mann-', from the PIE 'man-', meaning "man" or "person." The compound's logic is transparent, directly juxtaposing the concepts of divinity and humanity to denote a single entity embodying both natures. Its primary use emerged in Christian contexts to articulate the dual nature of Christ, though it later broadened to describe deified human figures in other religious or mythological traditions.
Analysis
Structure: god (deity) + man (human being)
- god: Origin: Old English 'god', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'god' and German 'Gott'. Role: Root noun denoting a deity or supreme being.
- man: Origin: Old English 'mann', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'man', German 'Mann'. Role: Root noun denoting a human being or person.
Examples
The doctrine of the Incarnation describes Jesus as the perfect god-man.
Some ancient myths feature god-men who intervene in human affairs.
The cult leader was venerated by his followers as a living god-man.