Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GOD, n. [Sax. god; G. gott; D. god; Sw. and Dan. gud; Goth. goth or guth; Pers. خُدَا goda or choda; Hindoo, khoda, codam. As this word and good are written exactly alike in Saxon, it has been inferred that God was named from his goodness. But the corresponding words in most of the other languages are not the same, and I believe no instance can be found of a name given to the Supreme Being from the attribute of goodness. It is probably an idea too remote from the rude conceptions of men in early ages. Except the word Jehovah, I have found the name of the Supreme Being to be usually taken from his supremacy or power, and to be equivalent to lord or ruler, from some root signifying to press or exert force. Now in the present case, we have evidence that this is the sense of this word, for in Persic goda is rendered dominus, possessor, princeps, as is a derivative of the same word. See Cast. Lex. col. 231.]

1. The Supreme Being; Jehovah; the eternal and infinite Spirit, the Creator, and the Sovereign of the Universe. God is a spirit; and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth. John iv.
2. A false god; a heathen deity; an idol. Fear not the gods of the Amorites. Judges vi.
3. A prince; a ruler; a magistrate or judge; an angel. Thou shall not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people. Exod. xxii. Ps. xcvii. [Gods here is a bad translation.]
4. Any person or thing exalted too much in estimation, or deified and honored as the chief good. Whose god is their belly. Phil. iii.