revelation

[rev-uh-ley-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of revealing or disclosing; disclosure.

   The revelation of previously hidden facts about the group’s activities changed the situation completely.

   Synonyms: exposure, divulgence, admission

2. something revealed or disclosed, especially a striking disclosure, such as of something not before realized.

   Her memoir contained several fascinating revelations about her love life.

3. Theology.

   1. God's disclosure of Himself and His will to His creatures.

   2. an instance of such communication or disclosure.

   3. something thus communicated or disclosed.

   4. something that contains such disclosure, as the Bible.

4. Also called The Revelation of St. John the Divine. Revelation. the last book in the New Testament; the Apocalypse. Rev.

revelation

¹

/ ˌrɛvəˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of disclosing something previously secret or obscure, esp something true

2. a fact disclosed or revealed, esp in a dramatic or surprising way

3. Christianity

   1. God's disclosure of his own nature and his purpose for mankind, esp through the words of human intermediaries

   2. something in which such a divine disclosure is contained, such as the Bible

Revelation

²

/ ˌrɛvəˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. Also called: the Apocalypse.  the Revelation of Saint John the Divine. (popularly, often plural) the last book of the New Testament, containing visionary descriptions of heaven, of conflicts between good and evil, and of the end of the world

Other Word Forms

• revelational adjective
• nonrevelation noun
• prerevelation noun
• unrevelational adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of revelation¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English revelacion, revelacioun, from Anglo-French revelaciun, revelacioun, revelatiun, from Middle French revelacion, revelation, from Late Latin revēlātiōn- (stem of revēlātiō ), equivalent to Latin revēlā(tus) , past participle of revēlāre “to remove the cover from, unveil, lift the lid of, uncover” + -tiōn- verbal noun suffix dentoting the action of the verb; reveal, -tion; apocalypse ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of revelation¹

C14: from Church Latin revēlātiō from Latin revēlāre to _reveal

Example Sentences

Ms. Pitts’s revelation of Robin’s disappointments in her life—she works at a coffee shop, and made a mistake that poisoned her relationship with Melissa—is touchingly but unsentimentally rendered.

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Oedipus’ rectitude and gleaming self-confidence were so palpable that as he grappled with the slow drip of dark revelations about his past—and present—his increasing disorientation and anguish were excruciating to watch.

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As a result, my first Oreo cookie was exciting and a revelation.

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Daniel Briceño, a Bogotá councilman and government transparency advocate who is critical of Petro, said the revelations were likely to further erode confidence in Colombia’s security forces, both at home and abroad.

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Soon the revelation drew taunts from Elon Musk, who suggested his rival was a copycat.

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Related Words

• announcement 
• discovery 
• epiphany 
• leak 
• news