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

The RFU said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the elite game and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game".

Read more on BBC

There are no shocking revelations of immorality or stories of substance abuse that aren’t already widely known.

Read more on Salon

That’s why, when Sasaki returned to Oklahoma for his next start days later, he went back over more video, and waited for a revelation.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The document has now been released by the National Archives under a Freedom of Information request, following the sacking of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador after fresh revelations about his friendship with the disgraced financier.

Read more on BBC

This latest revelation is fueling debate over whether the city of L.A. or the state of California can be found civilly liable for its role in the fire.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• announcement 
• discovery 
• epiphany 
• leak 
• news