(n. pl.) The benevolent spirits of the dead, especially of dead ancestors, regarded as family deities and protectors.

Dionysus Maecenas Santa Claus abettor admirer advocate aficionado almoner almsgiver ancestral spirits angelology angels apologist archangels assignor attendant godling awarder babe baby baby-doll backer bestower buff buttercup champion cheerful giver cherub cherubim chick chickabiddy child conferrer consignor contributor control daemon darling dear deary defender demon dependence doll dominations dominions donator donor dove duck duckling encourager endorser exponent fairy godmother familiar familiar spirit fan favorer feoffor financer friend at court funder genius genius domus genius loci giver good angel good genius grantor great soul grubstaker guarantor guardian guardian angel guardian spirit guide guru holy man hon honey honey bunch honey child household gods imparter infant innocent invisible helper lady bountiful lamb lambkin lares and penates lares compitales lares familiaris lares permarini lares praestites lares viales love lover mahatma mainstay maintainer manes meal ticket mere child ministering angel newborn babe numen paranymph partisan patron patroness penates pet petkins philanthropist powers precious precious heart presenter principalities promoter protagonist reliance rishi saint second seconder sectary seraphim settler sider snookums special providence sponsor staker stalwart standby starets subscriber sugar sugar daddy support supporter surety sustainer sweet sweetheart sweetie sweetkins sweets sympathizer testate testator testatrix thrones totem tutelar god tutelary upholder virtues votary vouchsafer well-wisher