afgod

English

Unknown, possibly from a calque of Old English *æfgod (literally off- +‎ god), but first attested in early modern dictionaries of Old English and probably mistakenly attributed based on Dutch afgod or Old Saxon afgod, which appears in pseudo-Bede's translation of the Sermon for All Saints' Day. The Dutch, Old Saxon, etc. forms derive from Old High German abgot (“idol, pagan god”), from ab- (“off, away from”) + got (“God, god”). Compare Old English æfgælþ (“superstition”) and Gothic 𐌰𐍆𐌲𐌿𐌸𐍃 (afguþs, “godless, impious”). (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

afgod (plural afgods)

(religion, derogatory, historical, obsolete) An idol.
- 1842, Thomas Chatterton, The Poetical Works: With Notices of His Life, History of the Rowley Controversy, a Selection of His Letters, and Notes Critical and Explanatory:
  ⁷ Ocyre, &c., or Promeise, and in Saxon, was little green cakes offered to the afgods or idols.
(religion, derogatory, historical, obsolete) A pagan god.
(heraldry, historical, obsolete) A kind of dragon associated with such idols or gods.
- 1769, The Town and Country Magazine, Or, Universal Repository of Knowledge, Instruction, and Entertainment, page 243:
  [Letter "To the Printer of the Town and Country Magazine"]
  Sir, Herewith I send you some curious Saxon atchievements; [...] b. A shield, aadod; and were little round cakes of green wheat offered to the Afgod, or lesser idol of the Saxons; shield, or; charge, vert. [...] f. A shield afgodod, charged with an afgod, and baso aadod. The afgod was an image like a dragon, as in the cut, placed at the feet of Woden : it was the ancient arms of Wessex, which has been often falsely blazoned a griffin, sergeant. [...] Bristol, May 15, 1769. I remain, Sir, Your humble servant, D. B.

From Middle Dutch afgod, afgot, from Old Dutch afgot. Equivalent to af +‎ god. Compare German Abgott, obsolete English afgod.

afgod m (plural afgoden, diminutive afgodje n)

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