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

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

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

   Coordinate term: God the Father

Mother of God

1. (Christianity) Said in supplication to Mary.

   Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death. Amen.

2. (blasphemous) An expression of surprise.

   Near-synonyms: Jesus, Mary and Joseph; wow; see also Thesaurus:wow

   And your husband's parents were in the earthquake zone? Mother of God! Did they survive?

   • 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

   Mother of God! I've had it up to here with your bullshit!

   • 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.