Eccl. Also 4–7 epyphany(e, epiphanie, (4 the pyffanie = th’ epyffanie). [a. OF. epiphanie = Pr., It. epifania, ad. late L. epiphania neut. pl. (but often used as fem. sing.), a. late Gr. ἐπιφάνια (neut. pl. of adj. *ἐπιφάνιος), f. ἐπιφαίνειν to manifest, f. ἐπί to + φαίνειν to show.]
The festival commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles in the persons of the Magi; observed on Jan. 6th, the 12th day after Christmas.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., 96. The thridde joie of that levedy, That men clepeth the Epyphany.
1389. Eng. Gild, 45. Þe thred shal bene þe soneday aftir þe fest of Epiphanie. Ibid. (13[?]), 103. Ye sunday nest aftere the pyffanye.
c. 1410. Love, Bonavent. Mirr., viii. (ed. Pynson), C vj. Of the Epyphanye to saye the open shewynge of oure lorde Jhesus.
1549. Bk. Com. Pr., xix b. The firste Sonday after the Epiphanye.
1661. Ussher, Power Princes, II. (1683), 225. The sixth day of January, which we call the Epiphany.
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., II. VIII. 133. The Epiphany … is observed in the East.
attrib. c. 1450. Life St. Cuthb. (Castle Howard MS.), 1747. Þan come þe Epiphany day.
1876. Grant, Burgh Sch. Scotl., II. v. 183. The morning after Epiphany day.
1884. A. J. Butler, Coptic Churches Egypt, I. i. 22. The large Epiphany tank … forms a regular part of a Coptic church.
b. transf.
1647. Crashaw, Poems, 166. May the great time in you still greater be, While all the year is your Epiphany.
