transfiguration means an annual feast day, observed on August 6th (Gregorian) or 19th (Julian), celebrating the miracle when the face of Jesus "shone like the sun" before the apostles. It carries an Arena rating of 1882, earned across 122 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, transfiguration ranks #364 of 17,128 for Most Ponderous Words, #460 of 17,124 for Most Sublime Words, #476 of 17,130 for Most Beautiful Words, #512 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words.
Why “transfiguration” is a great word
TRANSFIGURATION — [Noun] Primarily, the Christian feast commemorating the moment Jesus Christ's appearance became radiantly glorified before his disciples; more broadly, a profound change in form or appearance, especially one that exalts or reveals hidden splendor. From Middle English transfiguracioun, from Old French transfiguracion, Anglo-Norman transfiguraciun, and Latin transfigūrātio, from transfigūrāre ("to change in shape"), from trans- ("across") + figūra ("shape, form"). First attested in English c. 1400. Unlike "metamorphosis," which denotes a complete, often biological, change of physical form, or "transformation," a broad, neutral term for any alteration, "transfiguration" implies a change that is radiant, spiritually significant, and revelatory. It is the blinding light on the mountaintop that reveals a hidden divinity; the moment a weathered face is suddenly illuminated by profound, inward peace; or the way a commonplace street at dusk can be momentarily gilded, transforming brick and concrete into a fleeting vision of gold. It is a momentary breach where the eternal shines through the ordinary, leaving everything both more itself and utterly changed.
Etymology
From Middle English transfiguracioun, from Old French transfiguracion, Anglo-Norman transfiguraciun, and Latin transfigūrātio.
name
- An annual feast day, observed on August 6th (Gregorian) or 19th (Julian), celebrating the miracle when the face of Jesus "shone like the sun" before the apostles.
- The miracle itself.
noun
- A major change in appearance or form; a metamorphosis.
- A change that exalts or glorifies.
- superposition of one or more ideal-elements in comparison with other real ones, often through imagination but sometimes at the risk of confusing when not clearly realized.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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