Definition of epiphany

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< epipetalous

epiphenomenalism >

e·piph·a·ny    (-pf-n) KEY  

NOUN:
pl. e·piph·a·nies

1. Epiphany
   1. A Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi.
   2. January 6, on which this feast is traditionally observed.
2. A revelatory manifestation of a divine being.
3. 1. A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something.
   2. A comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization: "I experienced an epiphany, a spiritual flash that would change the way I viewed myself" (Frank Maier).

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English epiphanie, from Old French, from Late Latin epiphania, from Greek epiphaneia, manifestation, from epiphainesthai, to appear : epi-, forth ; see epi- + phainein , phan-, to show; see bh- ¹ in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
epi·phanic   (p-fnk) KEY  (Adjective)

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