annunciation

[uh-nuhn-see-ey-shuh n]

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noun

(often initial capital letter) the announcement by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary of her conception of Christ.

(initial capital letter) a representation of this in art.

(initial capital letter) Also called Lady Day. the church festival on March 25 in memory of this.

an act or instance of announcing; proclamation: the annunciation of a new foreign policy.

Origin of annunciation

1350–1400; Middle English an(n)unciacio(u)n (< Anglo-French) < Medieval Latin annūnciātiōn-, stem of annūnciātiō, for Late Latin adnūntiātiō; see annunciate, -ion

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for annunciation

edict, enunciation, notice, publication, communication, declaration, pronouncement, advertisement, proclamation, bulletin, notification

Examples from the Web for annunciation

Contemporary Examples of annunciation

Indeed, the Annunciation is retold in the Holy Book of Islam not once, but twice.
The Origins of Islam: Tom Holland Explains New Book ‘In the Shadow of the Sword’
Tom Holland
May 9, 2012

Historical Examples of annunciation

Quebec Chapel was built in 1788, and is now called the Church of the Annunciation.
Hampstead and Marylebone
Geraldine Edith Mitton
In the small chapel of the Annunciation is an altar piece by Guido Reni.
Italy, the Magic Land
Lilian Whiting
I am certain that your dear likeness is to be found under the Annunciation.
The Memoires of Casanova, Complete
Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
I had drawn her apart from the company, expecting she would be agitated by the annunciation.
Ernest Linwood
Caroline Lee Hentz
Painted the altar-piece of the "Annunciation," in the Cathedral, Volterra.
Luca Signorelli
Maud Cruttwell

British Dictionary definitions for annunciation

Annunciation

noun

the Annunciation New Testament the announcement of the Incarnation by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26–38)

Also called: Annunciation Day the festival commemorating this, held on March 25 (Lady Day)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for annunciation

early 14c., "Lady Day," from Anglo-French anunciacioun, Old French anonciacion, from Latin annuntiationem (nominative annuntiatio), noun of action from past participle stem of annuntiare (see announce). The Church festival (March 25) commemorating the visit of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, foretelling the incarnation. General sense of "an announcing" is from 1560s. Old English for "Annunciation Day" was bodungdæg.

annunciation in Culture

Annunciation

An announcement made by the angel Gabriel to Mary, the mother of Jesus, that she was going to bear a son, even though she was a virgin. Her son was to be called Jesus.