epiphania Latin · revision 4550

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Ammianus Marcellinus|origins=grc ἐπιφαίνω}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''epiphanīa''' ''n pl'' (genitive epiphanīōrum); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|ἐπιφάνεια|tr=epipháneia|t=appearance, manifestation]],^(Wiktionary)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010) from [[m|grc|ἐπιφαίνω|tr=epiphaínō|t=to show forth, appear]].^(Köbler 2010) The festival name was originally a neuter plural, [[m|grc|ἐπιφάνια|tr=epipháneia]], and was later taken as a feminine singular.^(MLW)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Ammianus Marcellinus mentions the feast of the Epiphany.^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016) Köbler dates Ammianus c. 390 AD.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was the feast of the manifestation of Christ, the Epiphany, in Ammianus Marcellinus, the Theodosian Code and Jerome, who speaks of the day of the Epiphany.^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Isidore says the Greek word is ''apparitiō'' “appearance” in Latin.^(Isidore)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was the manifestation of Christ and the feast of the Adoration of the Magi.^(Niermeyer 1976) British writers also used it of an appearance and in geometry of a plane surface.^(DMLBS) Its descendants include [[it|befana]].^(Wiktionary) [[en|epiphany]] is recorded in the early 14th century as the feast.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 383–419/420 AD – Jerome speaks of the day of the Epiphany.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 390 AD – Ammianus Marcellinus mentions the feast.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore explains its name.^(Isidore)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 14th century – English ''epiphany'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' The [[m|en|Epiphany]], feast of the manifestation of Christ.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' An appearance, manifestation.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|epiphany]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate feminine ''epiphanīa'' meant “surface”, a Latin rendering of the same Greek word, in Favonius Eulogius.^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016) ''Epiphanīa'' was also the name of cities in Cilicia and Syria.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}