English

hierophany

Hierophany comes from French hiérophanie.

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

Earliest quotation: 1959, Mircea Eliade, Introduction: “Man becomes aware of the sacred, because it manifests…”

A compound of ἱερός ‘sacred, holy sign’ + φαίνω ‘show, appear’

Proto-Indo-European *ish₁ros ‘holy’

Proto-Hellenic *iherós ‘holy, divine’

Ancient Greek ἱερός ‘sacred, holy sign’

Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- ‘to shine’

Proto-Indo-European *bʰh₂-n-yé-ti

Proto-Hellenic *pʰáňňō ‘to appear’

Ancient Greek φαίνω ‘show, appear’

Every English word from French hiérophanie

noun A physical manifestation of the holy or sacred, serving as a spiritual eidolon for emulation or worship.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.