Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Epiphany

E-piph′a-ny

,
Noun.
[F.
épiphanie
, L.
epiphania
, Gr.
ἐπιφάνια
(sc. [GREEK]), for
ἐπιφάνεια
appearance, fr.
ἐπιφαίνειν
to show forth;
ἐπί
+
φαίνειν
to show. See
Fancy
.]
1.
An appearance, or a becoming manifest.
Whom but just before they beheld transfigured and in a glorious
epiphany
upon the mount.
Jer. Taylor.
An epic poet, if ever such a difficult birth should make its
epiphany
in Paris.
De Quincey.
2.
(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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Epiphany

EPIPH'ANY

,
Noun.
[Gr. appearance; to appear.] A christian festival celebrated on the sixth day of January, the twelfth day after Christmas, in commemoration of the appearance of our Savior to the magians or philosophers of the East, who came to adore him with presents; or as others maintain, to commemorate the appearance of the star to the magians, or the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. Jerome and Chrysostom take the epiphany to be the day of our Savior's baptism, when a voice from heaven declared, 'This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.' The Greek fathers use the word for the appearance of christ in the world, the sense in which Paul used the word. 2 Tim. 1.10.

Similar Results