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. Revelation. Also called The Revelation of St. John the Divine. 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 calledthe Apocalypsethe 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

Derived Forms

• ˌreveˈlational, adjective

Other Words From

• rev·e·la·tion·al adjective
• non·rev·e·la·tion noun
• pre·rev·e·la·tion noun
• un·rev·e·la·tion·al 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

In the Book of Revelations, Michael and his army of angels cast Satan and his minions out of heaven.

From Los Angeles Times

On one hand, there’s the pre-millennial interpretation of the Book of Revelation shared by most evangelical Christians: The world gets worse and worse until the day of Rapture and the last judgment.

From Salon

On September 3, Steinbeck’s wife Carol came up with the title “The Grapes of Wrath,” an allusion to Revelations 14:19–20 and a verse from “Battle Hymn of the Republic” by Julia Ward Howe.

From Salon

Revelations about the flags came as the court is considering cases related to the Jan. 6 riot, including charges faced by the rioters and whether Trump has immunity from prosecution on election interference charges.

From Seattle Times

Christian Zionism: Primarily an evangelical doctrine, originating in 19th-century British premillennialism, that regards supporting the State of Israel as crucial to fulfilling prophecies in the Book of Revelation.

From Salon

Related Words

• announcement
• discovery
• epiphany
• leak
• news