Epiphany

Posted by ESC on December 11, 2002

In Reply to: Moment of revelation posted by TheFallen on December 11, 2002

: : Saul, en route to Damasacus, gets waylaid by an angel and converted to Christianity (he becomes Paul). In English, when someone has a similar revelation or moment of blinding truth, we say s/he has had a ???(something related to the Saul story).

: : Thanks

: We say that the scales have fallen from his/her eyes.

From Merriam-Webster online. Meaning No. 3.

Main Entry: epiph·a·ny
Pronunciation: i-'pi-f&-nE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -nies
Etymology: Middle English epiphanie, from Middle French, from Late Latin epiphania, from Late Greek, plural, probably alteration of Greek epiphaneia appearance, manifestation, from epiphainein to manifest, from epi- + phainein to show -- more at FANCY
Date: 14th century
1 capitalized : January 6 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ
2 : an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being
3 a : a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking : an illuminating discovery b : a revealing scene or moment