Definitions for Epiphanyɪˈpɪf ə ni
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
e•piph•a•nyɪˈpɪf ə ni(n.)(pl.)-nies.
an appearance or manifestation, esp. of a deity.
Category: Religion
(cap.) a Christian festival, observed on Jan. 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi; Twelfth Day.
Category: Religion
a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into reality or the essential meaning of something, often initiated by some simple, commonplace occurrence.
a literary work or section of a work presenting such a moment of revelation and insight.
Category: Literature
Origin of epiphany:
1275–1325; ME < LL epiphanīa < LGk epipháneia, Gk: apparition <epiphane-, s. of epiphanḗs appearing, manifest, der. of epiphaínesthai to come into view, appear (epi-epi-+phaínesthai to appear) +-ia -y3
ep•i•phan•icˌɛp əˈfæn ɪk(adj.)e•piph′a•nous
Princeton's WordNet
epiphany(noun)
a divine manifestation
Epiphany, Epiphany of Our Lord, Twelfth day, Three Kings' Day, January 6(noun)
twelve days after Christmas; celebrates the visit of the three wise men to the infant Jesus
Wiktionary
epiphany(Noun)
A manifestation or appearance of a divine or superhuman being.
epiphany(Noun)
An illuminating realization or discovery, often resulting in a personal feeling of elation, awe, or wonder.
epiphany(Noun)
Season or time of the Christian church year from the Epiphany feast day to Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday), the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent (See Epiphany).
Epiphany(Noun)
Christian feast celebrating the appearance of Jesus Christ to the Magi (representing the world), traditionally celebrated on January 6, the day after the twelfth day of Christmas.
Origin: From epiphanie, from epiphania, from ἐπιφάνεια, from ἐπιφαίνω, from ἐπί + φαίνω. English Epiphany (of Christ) since the 14th century, generic use since the 17th century.
Webster Dictionary
Epiphany(noun)
an appearance, or a becoming manifest
Epiphany(noun)
a church festival celebrated on the 6th of January, the twelfth day after Christmas, in commemoration of the visit of the Magi of the East to Bethlehem, to see and worship the child Jesus; or, as others maintain, to commemorate the appearance of the star to the Magi, symbolizing the manifestation of Christ to the Gentles; Twelfthtide
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
Epiphany
as observed in the Christian Church, is a festival held on the 12th day after Christmas, in commemoration of the manifestation of Christ to the Magi of the East; but up to the close of the 4th century the festival also commemorated the incarnation of Christ as well as the divine manifestation at His baptism.
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