epiphany
UK[ɪˈpɪfəni]US[ɪˈpɪfəni]
n
a moment of sudden and great revelation or realization.
n
(epiphany) the christian festival, held on january 6, celebrating the manifestation of christ to the gentiles as represented by the magi.
Morpheme Breakdown
epi
phany
epi
upon
phany
appearance
Etymology
the word 'epiphany' originates from the greek 'epiphaneia', meaning 'manifestation' or 'striking appearance'. this noun was formed from the combination of 'epi' (upon) and 'phainein' (to show). it entered english via old french and ecclesiastical latin, initially used in the 14th century to denote the christian feast celebrating the manifestation of christ. the secular sense of a sudden, intuitive insight developed in the 17th century, metaphorically extending the idea of a divine manifestation to a moment of profound personal revelation.
Analysis
Structure: epi (upon) + phany (appearance)
epi is a greek prefix meaning 'upon, at, or close to'. phany is derived from the greek root 'phainein', meaning 'to show, to appear'.
Examples
after years of struggle, she had an epiphany about the true meaning of happiness.
the novel's climax occurs when the protagonist experiences a life-altering epiphany.
the community gathers every year to celebrate the feast of the epiphany.