annunciation

[ uh-nuhn-see-ey-shuhn ]

noun

1. (often initial capital letter) the announcement by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary of her conception of Christ.
2. (initial capital letter) a representation of this in art.
3. (initial capital letter) Also called Lady Day. the church festival on March 25 in memory of this.
4. an act or instance of announcing; proclamation:

   the annunciation of a new foreign policy.

Annunciation

/ əˌnʌnsɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. the Annunciation
   New Testament the announcement of the Incarnation by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26–38)
2. Also calledAnnunciation Day the festival commemorating this, held on March 25 (Lady Day)

Annunciation

1. An announcement made by the angel Gabriel to Mary, the mother of Jesus , that she was going to bear a son, even though she was a virgin. Her son was to be called Jesus .

Word History and Origins

Origin of annunciation¹

1350–1400; Middle English an ( n ) unciacio ( u ) n (< Anglo-French ) < Medieval Latin annūnciātiōn-, stem of annūnciātiō, for Late Latin adnūntiātiō; annunciate, -ion

Example Sentences

The tradition’s canonical scenes — annunciations, resurrections, saintly transfigurations — are unavoidably miraculous, no matter how they’re rendered.

From New York Times

In some ways Danaë’s story parallels the combined New Testament episodes of the annunciation, which in turn prefigures the birth of Jesus and his death on the cross.

From Washington Post

The opening credits — an assembly-line montage scored to the pounding first chords of the blues song “I’m a Man,” sung with new lyrics by Captain Beefheart — provide a brutal annunciation.

From New York Times

It felt precious to be there at that pivotal moment, at both a peculiar homecoming and an annunciation.

From The Guardian

A soft whisper of violins yields to sighing, drooping sounds throughout the strings, then forthright brass fanfares begin; they recur throughout the piece, a kind of periodic annunciation.

From New York Times