angels

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of angel.

   Two carved angels guarded the entrance to the old chapel.

   She believed that angels had guided her safely through the storm.

   Note

   A regular plural, formed by adding -s, and it carries every meaning the singular has. It covers the winged messengers of carved chapels and the lowest order of heavenly beings, ranked below virtues. Figuratively, it also covers people admired for kindness, innocence or radiant beauty. The same spelling is also the verb for backing with money: "she angels" is that verb, while "the angels" is always the noun.

2. 2
   verbslang

   Third-person singular simple present of angel.

   A retired producer angels two new musicals each season.

   The foundation angels promising young filmmakers across the region.

   Note

   The money verb is slang, and it is always transitive: someone angels a project, a production or a newcomer, with whatever is funded as the direct object. Its slang flavor suits lively writing about patrons and backers, but "funds" or "sponsors" is safer in formal reports. This -s form goes with singular subjects (a producer angels). Plural subjects take bare angel (producers angel).

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