a. Forms: 1 ælmeahtiʓ, ealmintiʓ, 2 ælmihti, almihtiȝ, 2–3 almihti(e, (3 allmahhtiȝ), 3–4 almiȝti, -myȝti, -myhti, 4 almihty, allmyghty, 4–5 almyghty, -myȝty, 6 allmighty, 7 -ie, 6–7 almightie, 4– almighty. [f. ALL adv. + MIGHTY. OE. ælmeahtiʓ = OS. alomahtig, OHG. alamahtic: see the by-forms ALMIGHT, -IN, -END.] All-powerful, omnipotent.

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  1.  Orig. and in the strict sense used as an attribute of the Deity, and joined to God or other title.

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c. 890.  Cod. Dipl., 138. On Godes ealmihtiʓes naman.

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a. 1000.  Psalm l. (Cotton) 85. Ælmeahtiʓ god.

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c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 7. Þenne wunet god almihti in us. Ibid., 97. Þe almihtiȝa godes sune.

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c. 1200.  Ormin, 95. Biforenn Crist Allmahhtiȝ Godd.

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c. 1300.  Beket, 1042. Ȝe honuryeth more an urthlich King than ȝe God almiȝti do.

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1366.  Maundev., i. 6. In the Name of God Glorious and Allemyghty.

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1418.  Abp. Chichele, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 2, I. 4 Blessud be Almyȝty God.

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1535.  Coverdale, Ecclus. l. 20. To geue thankes to Allmightie God.

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1611.  Bible, Gen. xvii. 1. I am the almightie God, walke before me.

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1732.  Pope, Ess. Man, I. 145. The first Almighty Cause Acts not by partial, but by gen’ral Laws.

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1864.  Tennyson, En. Ard., 783. O God Almighty, Blessed Saviour.

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  b.  absol. The Almighty; a title of God.

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a. 1000.  Beowulf, 184. Cwæþ þæt se Ælmihtiʓa eorþan worhte.

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1382.  Wyclif, Ruth i. 20. With bitternes mych the Almyȝti hath fulfillid me.

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1535.  Coverdale, Job vi. 4. The allmighty hath shott at me with his arowes.

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1611.  Bible, Job viii. 3. Doth the Almightie peruert iustice?

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1667.  Milton, P. L., IV. 566. To know More of th’ Almighties works.

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1718.  Pope, Iliad, VII. 215. Grant, thou Almighty! in whose hand is fate, A worthy champion.

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1878.  E. White, Life in Christ, 108. The same words are used by the Almighty in threatening Abimelech.

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Mod.  If it should please the Almighty to spare him for a few years longer.

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  c.  rarely in superlative.

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1598.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. vii. (1641), 60/2. Man (but Image of th’ Almightiest) Without these gifts is not a Man, but Beast.

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  2.  All-powerful (in a general sense).

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c. 1386.  Chaucer, Monkes T., 62. O noble almighty Sampson.

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1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 650. The Armipotent Mars, of Launces the almighty. Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., V. ii. 174. Constring’d in masse by the almighty Fenne [v.r. sunne].

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1782.  Cowper, Hope, 655. Insensible of Truth’s almighty charms.

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1837.  W. Irving, Wolf. Roost (1855), 25. The almighty dollar, that great object of universal devotion throughout our land.

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1863.  W. Phillips, Speeches, iii. 45. I hail the almighty power of the tongue.

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  ¶  slang. Mighty, great; exceedingly.

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1824.  De Quincey, Wks. (1871), XVI. 261. Such rubbish, such ‘almighty’ nonsense (to speak transatlanticè), no eye has ever beheld.

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1833.  Marryat, Pet. Simple (1863), 328. An almighty pretty French privateer lying in St. Pierre’s.

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