epiphany

[ ih-pif-uh-nee ]
/ ɪˈpɪf ə ni /

noun, plural e·piph·a·nies.

(initial capital letter) a Christian festival, observed on January 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi; Twelfth-day.
an appearance or manifestation, especially of a deity.
a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.
a literary work or section of a work presenting, usually symbolically, such a moment of revelation and insight.

Origin of epiphany

1275–1325; Middle English epiphanie < Late Latin epiphanīa < Late Greek epipháneia, Greek: apparition, equivalent to epi- epi- + phan- (stem of phaínein to appear) + -eia -y3

OTHER WORDS FROM epiphany

ep·i·phan·ic [ep-uh-fan-ik] /ˌɛp əˈfæn ɪk/, e·piph·a·nous, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for epiphany

British Dictionary definitions for epiphany (1 of 2)

epiphany
/ (ɪˈpɪfənɪ) /

noun plural -nies

the manifestation of a supernatural or divine reality
any moment of great or sudden revelation

Derived forms of epiphany

epiphanic (ˌɛpɪˈfænɪk), adjective

Word Origin for epiphany

C17: via Church Latin from Greek epiphaneia an appearing, from epi- + phainein to show

British Dictionary definitions for epiphany (2 of 2)

Epiphany
/ (ɪˈpɪfənɪ) /

noun plural -nies

a Christian festival held on Jan 6, commemorating, in the Western Church, the manifestation of Christ to the Magi and, in the Eastern Church, the baptism of Christ

Cultural definitions for epiphany

Epiphany
[ (i-pif-uh-nee) ]

A festival in Christianity celebrating the visit of the Wise Men to the infant Jesus. Epiphany means “a showing forth” — in this case a showing forth of Jesus to the Gentiles.