ἐπιφάνεια Ancient Greek · revision 3140

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=5th–4th century BC, Plato|origins=ine-pro *bʰeh₂-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /e.pi.pʰá.neː.a/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /e.piˈɸa.ni.a/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /e.piˈfa.ni.a/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ἐπῐφᾰ́νειᾰ''' (epipháneia) ''f'' (genitive ἐπῐφᾰνείᾱς); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is derived from [[ἐπιφανής|tr=epiphanḗs|t=in view, manifest]] with the suffix [[m|grc|-ια|tr=-ia]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) The adjective is from [[ἐπιφαίνω|tr=epiphaínō|t=to come into view]], formed from [[ἐπί|tr=epí|t=upon]] and [[φαίνω|tr=phaínō|t=to show, bring to light]], from [[ine-pro|*bʰeh₂-|t=to shine]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ BDAG traces it to the Presocratics.^(BDAG 2000) Plato uses it, with a play on its sense of a god's manifestation, for a person's emergence into the limelight.^(BDAG 2000)^(CGL 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its senses are many: Polybius uses it for the coming into view of daybreak, the sudden appearance of an enemy, the visible face of a body of troops or a city, and splendour or ostentation.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940) Aristotle and Polybius use it in geometry for a surface, and Isocrates and Plutarch for fame and distinction.^(CGL 2021) Above all it was the manifestation of a god to his worshippers, as in Dionysius of Halicarnassus and Plutarch, and a festival commemorating such an appearance; sacrifices called ''ἐπιφάνεια'' were offered for it.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)^(Etymonline)

+

+ In the Second and Third Books of Maccabees it is God's intervention and manifestation.^(Lust 2003)^(Spicq 1994) In the New Testament it is the advent or manifestation of Christ.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Latin borrowed it as [[m|la-lat|epiphania]], and English ''epiphany'' came from it through French in the early 14th century, as the name of the festival of the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Modern Greek [[m|el|επιφάνεια|tr=epifáneia]] means “surface”, a sense reinforced by French ''surface''.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 5th–4th century BC – Plato uses it for prominence.^(CGL 2021)

+ * 4th century BC – Aristotle uses it for a geometrical surface, and Isocrates for fame.^(CGL 2021)

+ * 2nd century BC – Polybius uses it for daybreak and the sudden appearance of an enemy.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ * 2nd–1st century BC – The Books of Maccabees use it for God's intervention.^(Lust 2003)

+ * 1st century AD – The New Testament uses it for the coming of Christ.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+ * Early 14th century – English borrows ''epiphany'' through French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An appearance, coming into view, as of daybreak or of an enemy.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # The manifestation of a god, an [[m|en|epiphany]], or ''(New Testament)'' the advent of Christ.^(LSJ 1940)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Physical appearance, aspect.^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(geometry)'' A [[m|en|surface]]; the visible face of something.^(CGL 2021)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Conspicuousness, splendour, or ''(pejorative)'' ostentation.^(CGL 2021)

+ # Fame, distinction.^(CGL 2021)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ἐπιφανής|tr=epiphanḗs]]

+ * [[ἐπιφαίνω|tr=epiphaínō]]

+ * [[φαίνω|tr=phaínō]]

+ * [[en|epiphany]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}