[ad. Gr. ἐπιφάνεια manifestation, striking appearance, esp. an appearance of a divinity (in N. T. applied to the advent or ‘appearing’ of Christ), f. ἐπιφανής manifest, conspicuous, related to ἐπιφαινειν: see prec.]
1. A manifestation or appearance of some divine or superhuman being.
a. 1667. Jer. Taylor, Serm., III. ix. (R.). Him … they beheld transfigured, and in a glorious epiphany on the mount.
1677. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, II. III. 193. The Grecians in commemoration of these epiphanies or apparitions of their gods instituted certain Festival-dayes.
1826. E. Irving, Babylon, II. VI. 121. The second coming of Christ, the glorious Epiphany of God our Saviour.
1847. Grote, Greece, II. xxx. (1849), IV. 141. Probably all … sincerely believed in the epiphany of the goddess.
1870. F. Hall, in Wilson’s trans. Vishṅu-puráṅa, v. 3. The first definition of Hayagriva makes him an epiphany of Vishṅu.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul, I. 164. Transported beyond all thought of peril by that divine epiphany, he [Stephen] exclaimed [etc.].
2. transf. and fig.
1840–1. De Quincey, Style, Wks. XI. 257. There had been two manifestations or bright epiphanies of the Grecian intellect.
1881. Blackie, Lay Serm., v. 186. The statesman has yet to make his epiphany who [etc.].
