noun pl. Epiphanies -·nies

1. an appearance or manifestation of a god or other supernatural being
2. in many Christian churches, a yearly festival, held January 6, commemorating both the revealing of Jesus as the Christ to the Gentiles in the persons of the Magi and the baptism of Jesus
   also called Twelfth Day
3. 1. a moment of sudden intuitive understanding; flash of insight
   2. a scene, experience, etc. that occasions such a moment

Etymology: ME & OFr epiphanie < LL(Ec) epiphania < Gr(Ec) epiphaneia, appearance < epiphainein, to show forth, manifest < epi-, upon + phainein, to show: see fantasy