epiphany
epiphany Lexical Profile
epiphany Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A moment of sudden, profound, and illuminating realization or insight into the true nature or meaning of something.
"While reviewing the experimental data late at night, the researcher had an epiphany that solved the long-standing problem."
A Christian feast day celebrated on January 6 commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (usually capitalized as Epiphany).
"In many European cultures, families gather on Epiphany to share a special festive cake and exchange gifts."
An appearance or manifestation of a divine or superhuman being.
"Ancient mythological texts frequently describe the dramatic epiphany of a deity before mortal witnesses."
• Rhymes for epiphany
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Old French epiphanie, via Ecclesiastical Latin from Koine Greek epiphaneia ('manifestation, striking appearance'), derived from epiphainesthai ('to appear, come into view'). Its modern secular sense of a sudden flash of insight was popularized by the Irish writer James Joyce in the early 20th century.