incarnate

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

adjective

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

   a devil incarnate.

2. personified or typified, as a quality or idea:

   chivalry incarnate.

3. flesh-colored or crimson.

verb (used with object)

, in·car·nat·ed, in·car·nat·ing.

1. to put into or represent in a concrete form, as an idea:

   The building incarnates the architect's latest theories.

2. to be the embodiment or type of:

   Her latest book incarnates the literature of our day.

3. to embody in flesh; invest with a bodily, especially a human, form:

   a man who incarnated wisdom and compassion.

incarnate

adjective

1. possessing bodily form, esp the human form

   a devil incarnate

2. personified or typified

   stupidity incarnate

3. (esp of plant parts) flesh-coloured or pink

verb

1. to give a bodily or concrete form to
2. to be representative or typical of

Other Words From

• nonin·carnate adjective
• nonin·carnat·ed adjective
• unin·carnate adjective
• unin·carnat·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of incarnate¹

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; in- ², carnal, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of incarnate¹

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

Example Sentences

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.

From The Daily Beast

“Within its 1806 embodiment of the cocktail incarnate—spirit, sweetner, bitters, water—there is traditionalism,” Simonson writes.

From The Daily Beast

The idea that a classroom full of black kids is something to shake your head at is not wisdom incarnate.

From The Daily Beast

As Jordan Belfort, a charismatic monster of a stockbroker, DiCaprio is a feral beast; the id incarnate.

From The Daily Beast

His angular cheeks, thick glasses, and carefully combed hair incarnate elegance, vision, and, unfortunately, personal agony.

From The Daily Beast

In that happy place of the collective imagination, Snowden is practically an avatar of our secular devil—“negativity” incarnate.

From The Daily Beast

"Without doubt; true demons incarnate," replied the veracious priest.

From Project Gutenberg

Her smile was strangely distant, strangely precious: she was love and tenderness incarnate; her little hands held both of his.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence she surpassed in grace and holiness all other created beings, and was consecrated a worthy temple of the incarnate Word.

From Project Gutenberg

She was a creature consecrated, made holy by suffering; she was the sacredness of life incarnate, a thing godlike, beyond earth.

From Project Gutenberg

Destiny, incarnate in the form of Wellington, has still some dignity; but how sordid in the shape of Hudson Lowe.

From Project Gutenberg