Where does “epiphany” come from?
Epiphany comes from Old French epyphanie, from Late Latin epiphania, from Ancient Greek ἐπιφάνεια, composed of ἐπί meaning "upon" and a root from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂- meaning "to shine."
epiphany (English): An illuminating realization or discovery, often...
Definitions
- An illuminating realization or discovery, often...
Ancestry of “epiphany”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | epyphanie | Epiphany |
| 2 | Latin | epiphanīa | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ἐπιφάνεια | appearance, manifestation; visible portion,... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | Ἐπιφανής | appearing, coming to light |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἐπι- | on, upon, on top of, all over, covering; on,... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἐπί | as well, besides; For usage in composition, see... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | Ἡμέρα | — |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | ἦμαρ | day; by day; midday |
| 9 | Proto-Hellenic | ā́mər | day |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₃mr̥ | heat |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₃- | to be hot; to burn |