theophany

[thee-of-uh-nee]

noun, plural the·oph·a·nies.

a manifestation or appearance of God or a god to a person.

Origin of theophany

1625–35; < Late Latin theophania < Late Greek theopháneia. See theo-, -phany

Related formsthe·o·phan·ic

[thee-uh-fan-ik] /ˌθi əˈfæn ɪk/, the·oph·a·nous, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for theophany

Historical Examples of theophany

But the result of the theophany is small only in the same fashion as its cause was small.
The Expositor's Bible: The Psalms, Vol. 1
A. Maclaren
The expression is notable, for the song of the sky is thunder and the theophany that of Sinai.
The Lords of the Ghostland
Edgar Saltus
They do not deny a theophany in the gift of Christianity; but they deny two very different things, viz.:—1.
Studies of Christianity
James Martineau
That this is theophany alone;—that is, they look for some divine elements elsewhere; and they look for some human here.
Studies of Christianity
James Martineau
In all these cases the angels, like the Mal'akh Yahweh, are connected with or represent a theophany.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Part 1, Slice 1
Various

British Dictionary definitions for theophany

theophany

noun plural -nies

theol a manifestation of a deity to man in a form that, though visible, is not necessarily material

Derived Formstheophanic (θɪəˈfænɪk) or theophanous, adjective

Word Origin for theophany

C17: from Late Latin theophania, from Late Greek theophaneia, from theo- + phainein to show

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 theophany

1630s, from Late Latin theophania, from Greek theophaneia, from theos "god" (see Thea) + phainein "to show" (see phantasm).