ðə wˈɜːd ænd ɪts kˈɑːɡneɪts wɜːɹ ɪnˈɪʃəli nˈuːɾɚ bˌʌt ˌʌndɚwˈɛnt tɹænsˈɪʃən wɛn ðɛɹ spˈiːkɚz kənvˈɜːɾᵻd tə kɹˌɪstɪˈænᵻɾi, "æz ɐ mˈiːnz ʌv dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃɪŋ ðə pˈɜːsənəl ɡˈɑːd ʌvðə kɹˈɪstʃənz fɹʌmðɪ ɪmpˈɜːsənəl dᵻvˈaɪn pˈaʊɚz ɐknˈɑːlɪdʒd baɪ pˈeɪɡənz."
The word and its cognates were initially neuter but underwent transition when their speakers converted to Christianity, "as a means of distinguishing the personal God of the Christians from the impersonal divine powers acknowledged by pagans."