[ad. L. transfigūrātiōn-em (Pliny), n. of action from transfigūrāre (see prec.). Cf. F. transfiguration (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.). The specific sense 2 was from its ecclesiastical use the earlier in Eng.]
1. The action of transfiguring or state of being transfigured; metamorphosis.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 161. Ihon Cade … departed secretly in habite disguysed … but all his metamorphosis or transfiguracion, litle preuailed.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 76. He hath so often and so diuers transfiguration in colour.
1569. J. Sanford, trans. Agrippa’s Van. Artes, 69 b. Ouide in his Transfigurations singeth in this sorte.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 361. Of the transfiguration of men into Lions, we shall say more afterward.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet. (title-p.), Nations, fashioning and altering their Bodies from the mould intended by Nature; With Figures of those Transfigurations.
1836. Emerson, Nature, Idealism, Wks. (Bohn), II. 162. This transfiguration which all material objects undergo through the passion of the poet.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, i. (Petrus), 37. Criste … hym tuk to be hym by In his transfiguracion.
1497. Bp. Alcock, Mons Perfect., D iij. This noble transfyguracoun thus shewed to his dyscyples.
a. 1691. Boyle, Greatn. Mind, I. ii. Wks. 1772, V. 557. How glorious it is in heaven, we may guess by what it was at his transfiguration here on earth.
1856. Dove, Logic Chr. Faith, V. i. § 2. 296. In that sublime spectacle called the transfiguration.
b. Eccl. The church festival commemorating this event, observed on the 6th of August.
c. 1460. Brut, cclv. 522. This Calixte instituted & ordeyned þe Feste of Transffiguracion of our Lorde to be halowed on Seynt Sixt day in August.
1510–1. Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 274. Paid for brede, ale and wyne at þe fest of transfiguracion.
c. A picture or representation of this event.
1712. Blackmore, Creation, III. 123. Did … Raphael’s Pencil never chuse to fall? Say, are his Works Transfigurations all?
1753. Mrs. Delany, in Life & Corr. (1861), III. 209. I have at last put the finishing stroke to the Transfiguration.
1838. Emerson, Addr., Lit. Ethics, Wks. (Bohn), II. 209. Say to the man of letters, that he cannot paint a Transfiguration.
