Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. An illuminating realization or discovery, often...

Ancestry of “epiphany”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old FrenchepyphanieEpiphany
2Latinepiphanīa—
3Ancient Greekἐπιφάνειαappearance, manifestation; visible portion,...
4Ancient GreekἘπιφανής—
5Ancient Greekἐπι-on, upon, on top of, all over, covering; on,...
6Ancient Greekἐπίas well, besides; For usage in composition, see...
7Ancient GreekἩμέρα—
8Ancient Greekἦμαρday; by day; midday
9Proto-Hellenicā́mər—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃mr̥heat
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃-to be hot; to burn

Words derived from “epiphany”

  • epiphanic
  • epiphanal
  • epiphanous
  • epiphanically
  • epiphanylike
  • epiphanally
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₃- →