transfiguration

American  

[trans-fig-yuh-rey-shuhn, trans-fig-] / ˌtræns fɪg yəˈreɪ ʃən, trænsˌfɪg- /

noun

1. the act of transfiguring.

2. the state of being transfigured.

3. (initial capital letter) the supernatural and glorified change in the appearance of Jesus on the mountain. Matthew 17:1–9.

4. (initial capital letter) the church festival commemorating this, observed on August 6.

---

Transfiguration ¹ British  

/ ˌtrænsfɪɡjʊˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. New Testament the change in the appearance of Christ that took place before three disciples (Matthew 17:1–9)

2. the Church festival held in commemoration of this on Aug 6

---

transfiguration ² British  

/ ˌtrænsfɪɡjʊˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of transfiguring or the state of being transfigured

---

Etymology

Origin of transfiguration

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English Transfiguracion, from Latin trānsfigūrātiōn- (stem of trānsfigūrātiō ) “change of shape”; transfigure, -ation

Explanation

If your teenage cousin was only seven the last time you saw her, you might describe her as having undergone a transfiguration, or an enormous physical change. When a person's appearance changes dramatically, that's one kind of transfiguration. A magician changing a dove into a bouquet of flowers also performs a transfiguration. The word shows up frequently in religious writing as well, describing a more spiritual kind of change. In fact, the origin of transfiguration is mostly religious. While the Latin root, transfigurare, means "change the shape of," transfiguration was first used in English to mean "the change in appearance of Christ."

Example Sentences

In the empty streets of Metamorfosi, which in Greek means transfiguration, piles of residents' belongings, framed paintings, furniture, blankets and carpets, are the only spot of colour in the mud.

From Reuters • Sep. 27, 2023

An equally powerful transfiguration occurred through his encounter with the work of the Black American artist Romare Bearden.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 11, 2023

There is nothing left to say about the transfiguration of M&Ms in the script to Reese's Pieces.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2022

This is further exhibited in the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament, said Miles, through the account Jesus’ transfiguration.

From Fox News • Mar. 13, 2022

The three-dimensional object has not been perfectly represented in its transfiguration into two dimensions.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan