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Origin and history of transfigure

transfigure(v.)

early 13c., transfiguren, "gloriously alter the appearance of," especially in reference to Christ (see transformation), from Old French transfigurer "change, transform" (12c.), and directly from Latin transfigurare "change the shape of," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + figurare "to form, fashion," from figura "to form, shape," from figura "a shape, form, figure" (from PIE root *dheigh- "to form, build"). Related: Transfigured; transfiguring.

Also, "be spiritually transformed in conformity to Christ" (late 14c.). General (non-Christian) senses of "change the outward form or appearance of, alter the shape" are by late 14c., including "adopt a role" (of an actor), "be metamorphosed" (by magic). The intransitive meaning "change in appearance or character" (1840) is rare. Also compare transfigurate (v.) "transform, change" (early 15c.), from the past-participle stem of the Latin verb.

also from early 13c.

Entries linking to transfigure

transformation(n.)

c. 1400, transformacioun, "change of form, nature, or appearance," especially "supernatural alteration in semblance or form," from Old French transformation, transformacion, and directly from Church Latin transformationem (nominative transformatio) "change of shape," noun of action from past-participle stem of transformare "change in shape, metamorphose" (see transform). Alternative transformance (1610s) is obsolete.

transfiguration(n.)

c. 1400, transfiguracioun, "the Transfiguration of Christ, the change in appearance of Christ before his disciples" (Matthew xvii.2; Mark ix.2, 3), also the Church festival commemorating this, from Latin transfigurationem (nominative transfiguratio) "a change of form," noun of action from past-participle stem of transfigurare ""change the shape of" (see transfigure). The non-Christian general sense of "change of appearance" is recorded by 1540s.

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transmogrify
"change completely, transform into some other person or thing as if by magic," 1650s, a word of unknown origin. Century Dictionary describes its usage as "humorous and contemptuous" and suggests it might be based on transform. In 17c. and 18c. it also appeared as transmography. O
glorify
mid-14c., "praise, honor, extol" (God or a person), also "vaunt, be proud of, boast of; glorify oneself, be proud, boast;" from Old French glorefiier "glorify, extol, exalt; glory in, boast" (Modern French glorifier), from Late Latin glorificare "to glorify," from Latin gloria "f
alert
"on the watch," 1610s, from French alerte "vigilant" (17c.), from prepositional phrase à l'erte "on the watch," from Italian all'erta "to the height." The second element is from erta "lookout, high tower," noun use of fem. of erto, past participle of ergere "raise up," from Latin
alter
late 14c., "to change (something), make different in some way," from Old French alterer "to change, alter," from Medieval Latin alterare "to change," from Latin alter "the other (of the two)," from PIE root *al- (1) "beyond" + comparative suffix -ter (as in other). Intransitive s
change
c. 1200, "to alter, make different, change" (transitive); early 13c. as "to substitute one for another;" mid-13c. as "to make (something) other than what it was, cause to turn or pass from one state to another;" from late 13c. as "to become different, be altered" (intransitive),
runt
c. 1500, "old or decayed tree stump" (Douglas), a provincial word of unknown origin. The meaning was extended to "small ox or cow," especially of the breeds characteristic of Wales and the Scottish Highlands (1540s, if indeed this is the same word), and by 1610s generally to unde
turn
late Old English turnian "to rotate, revolve," in part also from Old French torner "to turn away or around; draw aside, cause to turn; change, transform; turn on a lathe" (Modern French tourner), both from Latin tornare "to polish, round off, fashion, turn on a lathe," from tornu
modify
late 14c., modifien, "alter, amend, adjust, change the properties, form, or function of;" also "set limits, keep within the bounds of reason; choose a middle course," from Old French modifier (14c.), from Latin modificare "to limit, measure off, restrain," from modus "measure, ma
reserve
mid-14c., "keep back or in store for future use;" late 14c., "keep as one's own," from Old French reserver "set aside, withhold" (12c.) and directly from Latin reservare "keep back, save up; retain, preserve," from re- "back" (see re-) + servare "to keep, save, preserve, protect"
reverse
c. 1300, "opposite, contrary in position or direction, turned backward," from Old French revers "reverse, cross, opposite" (13c.) and directly from Latin reversus, past participle of revertere "turn back, turn about, come back, return" (see revert). In reference to a gear mechani

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