epiphany Meaning & Definition
What Does Epiphany Mean?
Epiphany is used as a noun meaning a Christian festival held on January 6 in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ. It can also mean an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being.
Epiphany at a Glance
| Part of speech | noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /i-ˈpi-fə-nē/ |
| Syllables | 4 |
| Synonyms | epiphany of our lord, january 6 and twelfth day |
| Plural | epiphanies |
Epiphany Definition (Noun)
- a Christian festival held on January 6 in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ
- an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being
the epiphany of God in Christ
- a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something
… the experience is an epiphany whereby the true essence of cooking is revealed.
- an intuitive grasp of reality through something (such as an event) usually simple and striking
… a food writer who has traveled around the world in an endless quest for epiphanies of flavor …
- an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure
When a child moves from recognizing letters to decoding and comprehension, a moment of epiphany takes place and children become empowered through their knowledge.
- a revealing scene or moment
The novel's epiphany … does not yield an image of the individual self in communion with the world but a monstrous vision of that world in flames …
Synonyms of Epiphany
Epiphany synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Epiphany
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Epiphany in a Sentence
It came to her in an epiphany what her life's work was to be.
the epiphany of God in Christ
… the experience is an epiphany whereby the true essence of cooking is revealed.
… a food writer who has traveled around the world in an endless quest for epiphanies of flavor …
When a child moves from recognizing letters to decoding and comprehension, a moment of epiphany takes place and children become empowered through their knowledge.
The novel's epiphany … does not yield an image of the individual self in communion with the world but a monstrous vision of that world in flames …
Word Forms & Grammar
epiph·a·nies
Epiphanies
Epiphany
epiphanies
epiphany
epiphany (countable and uncountable, plural epiphanies)
Words That Rhyme With Epiphany
Origin of Epiphany
Origin 1: Middle English Epiphanie, borrowed from Anglo-French Epiphane, Epiphanie, borrowed from Late Latin epiphanīa, epiphania "appearance, manifestation, Christ's first manifestation (to the Gentiles in Western tradition)," borrowed from Late Greek epipháneia "appearance, manifestation (of God in the Old Testament, of Christ's first coming or of the Second Coming)," going back to Greek, "appearance, coming into view, manifestation (of a deity to a worshipper), Christ's coming (in the New Testament), visible surface, outward show, fame," noun derivative of epiphanḗs "coming into view, appearing, manifest, evident," adjective derivative from the stem of epiphaínein "to show, display," mediopassive epiphaínesthai "to come into view, be manifested, appear on the surface," from epi- epi- + phaínein "to bring to light, cause to appear," phaínesthai "to become visible, appear" fantasy:1
Origin 2: From Middle English epiphanie, from Old French epyphanie, from Late Latin epiphania, from Ancient Greek ἐπιφάνεια (epipháneia, “manifestation, striking appearance”), from ἐπιφαίνω (epiphaínō, “I appear, display”), from ἐπι- (epi-, “upon”) + φαίνω (phaínō, “I shine, appear”). English Epiphany (of Christ) since the 14th century, generic use since the 17th century.
First Known Use
14th century
Pronouncing Epiphany
You say epiphany as /i-ˈpi-fə-nē/. It has 4 syllables, with the main stress on the second syllable (pi).
Questions People Ask About Epiphany
What part of speech is epiphany?
Epiphany is a noun.
What is another word for epiphany?
You can replace epiphany with words such as epiphany of our lord, january 6 and twelfth day. See the full list of epiphany synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of epiphany?
The plural of epiphany is epiphanies.