Mother of God

Calque of Latin Mater Dei and its descendants in other languages, from the Christian concept of the Trinity whereby Jesus as God the Son is identical to God the Father as the single divinity.

(the) Mother of God

1. (Christianity) A dogmatic title of Mary, mother of Jesus, in particular reference to her role as mother of God.

   Synonyms: Christotokos, Deipara, Holy Mother, Holy Mother of God, Mater Dei, Theotokos

Mother of God

1. (Christianity) Said in supplication to Mary.
2. (blasphemous) An expression of surprise.

   Synonyms: wow; see also Thesaurus:wow

   • 1990, Karen Lawrence, Springs of Living Water, New York, NY: Villard Books, →ISBN, page 47:

     “What a place!” her mother had exclaimed, when they finally arrived after almost a week of driving. “Sensational! Smell that? Eucalyptus trees! Mother of God, I feel a hundred percent better already, I swear it. And a big nice pool for you—two of them, will you look at that. Now how could anybody stay sick in a place like this, I ask you?”

3. (blasphemous) An expression of disgust, annoyance, or disappointment.

   Synonyms: dammit; see also Thesaurus:dammit

   • 1978 October, Johanna Lindsey, A Pirate's Love, New York, NY: Avon Books, →ISBN, page 51:

     “Mother of God! You should have asked me before you released that old woman. Now I can expect the wrath of hell to fall on my head when I walk through that door!” Tristan exclaimed, nodding at his cabin.

• “Mother of God”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• “Mother of God”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “Mother of God” (US) / “Mother of God” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary.