Etymology : Middle English epiphanie, from Middle French, from Late Latin epiphania, from Late Greek, plural, probably alteration of Greek epiphaneia appearance, manifestation, from epiphainein to manifest, from epi- + phainein to show; more at FANCY
Pronunciation : i-pi-f&-nE
Function : noun
Date : 14th century
1. religious holiday celebrated on January 6 to commemorate the visit of the wise men to Bethlehem (Christianity). epiphany\e*piph"a*ny\ , n. [f. épiphanie, l. epiphania, gr. 'epifa`nia (sc. ), for 'epifa`neia appearance, fr. 'epifai`nein to show forth; 'epi` + fai`nein to show. see:
fancy.].
2. an appearance, or a becoming manifest. whom but just before they beheld transfigured and in a glorious epiphany upon the mount. taylor. an epic poet, if ever such a difficult birth should make its epiphany in paris.
3. (eccl.) 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.epiphany n.
4. a divine manifestation.
5. twelve days after christmas; celebrates the visit of the three wise men to the infant jesus [syn: epiphany, epiphany of our lord , twelfth day, three kings' day , january 6 ].
6. An appearance, or a becoming manifest.
7. 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. a divine manifestation twelve days after Christmas; celebrates the visit of the three wise men to the infant Jesus.
8. Epiphany is a Christian festival on the 6th of January which celebrates the arrival of the wise men who came to see:
Jesus Christ soon after he was born. a Christian holy day on January 6th that celebrates the day when the Three Kings came to see:
the baby Jesus (épiphanie, from epiphaneia ). Christian festival celebrated on January.
9. One of the oldest Christian holy days (along with Christmas and Easter), the festival originated in the Eastern church and was adopted in the Western church by the 4th century. It commemorates the first manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles, as represented by the Magi. The eve of Epiphany, called Twelfth Night, is thought to mark the arrival of the Wise Men in Bethlehem. Epiphany also celebrates the (much later) baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist and Jesus' first miracle, performed at Cana.