incarnate

[ adjective in-kahr-nit, -neyt; verb in-kahr-neyt ]

/ adjective ɪnˈkɑr nɪt, -neɪt; verb ɪnˈkɑr neɪt /

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See synonyms for: incarnate / incarnated / incarnates / incarnating on Thesaurus.com

adjective

embodied in flesh; given a bodily, especially a human, form: a devil incarnate.

personified or typified, as a quality or idea: chivalry incarnate.

flesh-colored or crimson.

verb (used with object), in·car·nat·ed, in·car·nat·ing.

to put into or represent in a concrete form, as an idea: The building incarnates the architect's latest theories.

to be the embodiment or type of: Her latest book incarnates the literature of our day.

to embody in flesh; invest with a bodily, especially a human, form: a man who incarnated wisdom and compassion.

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Origin of incarnate

First recorded in 1350–1400; late Middle English, from Late Latin incarnātus, past participle of incarnāre “to make into flesh,” equivalent to in- “in” + carn- “flesh” + -ātus past participle suffix; see in-², carnal, -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM incarnate

non·in·car·nate, adjectivenon·in·car·nat·ed, adjectiveun·in·car·nate, adjectiveun·in·car·nat·ed, adjective

Words nearby incarnate

incarceration, incardinate, incardination, in care of, incarnadine, incarnate, incarnation, incarvillea, Incas, incase, incaution

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use incarnate in a sentence

No other single voice was able to connect with youth in the past troublesome decade the way Virgil did, and he did so naturally, because he was youth incarnate.
Virgil Abloh: Anna Wintour, Kanye West, and Venus Williams Share Memories|Alaina Demopoulos|November 29, 2021|The Daily Beast
“Within its 1806 embodiment of the cocktail incarnate—spirit, sweetner, bitters, water—there is traditionalism,” Simonson writes.
The Rise and Fall…and Rise Again of the Old-Fashioned|Allison McNearney|June 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The idea that a classroom full of black kids is something to shake your head at is not wisdom incarnate.
Equality Matters More Than Integration in Schools|John McWhorter|May 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As Jordan Belfort, a charismatic monster of a stockbroker, DiCaprio is a feral beast; the id incarnate.
Why Leonardo DiCaprio, Who Wows in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ Deserves to (Finally) Win An Oscar|Marlow Stern|February 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

His angular cheeks, thick glasses, and carefully combed hair incarnate elegance, vision, and, unfortunately, personal agony.
The Making of Fashion Legend Yves Saint Laurent|Sarah Moroz|January 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In that happy place of the collective imagination, Snowden is practically an avatar of our secular devil—“negativity” incarnate.
Edward Snowden, Not Pope Francis, Is the Person of the Year|James Poulos|December 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
"Without doubt; true demons incarnate," replied the veracious priest.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
Her smile was strangely distant, strangely precious: she was love and tenderness incarnate; her little hands held both of his.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
Hence she surpassed in grace and holiness all other created beings, and was consecrated a worthy temple of the incarnate Word.
Mary, Help of Christians|Various
She was a creature consecrated, made holy by suffering; she was the sacredness of life incarnate, a thing godlike, beyond earth.
Love's Pilgrimage|Upton Sinclair
Destiny, incarnate in the form of Wellington, has still some dignity; but how sordid in the shape of Hudson Lowe.
Toilers of the Sea|Victor Hugo

British Dictionary definitions for incarnate

incarnate

adjective (ɪnˈkɑːnɪt, -neɪt) (usually immediately postpositive)

possessing bodily form, esp the human forma devil incarnate

personified or typifiedstupidity incarnate

(esp of plant parts) flesh-coloured or pink

verb (ɪnˈkɑːneɪt) (tr)

to give a bodily or concrete form to

to be representative or typical of

Word Origin for incarnate

C14: from Late Latin incarnāre to make flesh, from Latin in- ² + carō flesh

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

incarnate

Origin of incarnate

OTHER WORDS FROM incarnate

Words nearby incarnate

Words related to incarnate

How to use incarnate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for incarnate

Word Origin for incarnate