revelation

plural revelations

1. countableuncountableThe act of revealing or disclosing.

   The revelation of the culprits' identities was cathartic for the populace.

   1 more example

   Magicians talk about the revelation at the end of a trick.

   2007, Paul Zenon, Cool Card Tricks: Techniques for the Advanced Magician, page 58

2. countableuncountableSomething that is revealed.

   The revelaciõ of Jeſus Chꝛiſte / which god gave vnto hĩ / foꝛto ſhewe vnto his ſervaunt[es] thyng[es] which muſte ſhoꝛtly come to paſſe.

   1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, The Revelacion off Sanct Jhon the Devine j:[1], folio cccxxj, verso

   2 more examples

   But it was much more than a mere ship. Its systems, processes, and technology were so advanced that they dwarfed every accomplishment of the Citadel species. Its grandeur and complexity rivaled the greatest creations of the Protheans—the mass relays and the Citadel. It may have even surpassed them. And if Saren could learn and understand how it worked, he could seize all that power for himself. He’d spent his entire life preparing for a moment like this. Everything he’d ever done—his military service, his career with the Spectres—was only a prelude to this revelation. Now he had found his true purpose; destiny had led him here.

   2007, Drew Karpyshyn, Mass Effect: Revelation, Del Rey Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, pages 320–321

   The use of algorithms in policing is one example of their increasing influence on our lives.[…]who, if anyone, is policing their use[?] Such concerns were sharpened further by the continuing revelations about how the US National Security Agency (NSA) has been using algorithms to help it interpret the colossal amounts of data it has collected from its covert dragnet of international telecommunications.

   2013 July 26, Leo Hickman, “How algorithms rule the world”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 7, page 26

3. countableuncountableSomething dramatically disclosed.

   This invention was a revelation for farmers throughout the region, who immediately adopted it.

4. countableuncountablelifestyleA manifestation of divine truth.

   This does not mean that God has difficulty overcoming obstacles; if one questions whether revelation is ‘a simple matter’, this need not refer to whether or not God has to exert himself greatly to overcome these obstacles, or whether he is grieved or suffers in some way to overcome these obstacles.

   2008, Rolfe King, Obstacles to Divine Revelation: God and the Reorientation of Human Reason, Bloomsbury Academic, →ISBN

   Synonyms: apocalypse

5. countableuncountableSomething that turns out to be a great success.

   This invention was a revelation for farming throughout the region, where it doubled crop yields.

   2 more examples

   Upon the more developed taste of the present Jewish public, Goldfaden's operettas do not make much impression, but half a century ago his plays were a revelation to the people in Eastern Europe and caused a furor throughout the Jewish settlement in Russia.

   1929, Abraham Zevi Idelsohn, Jewish Music: Its Historical Development, page 453

   The 26-year-old has proved a revelation since his £10m move from Freiburg, with his 11 goals in 10 matches hauling Newcastle above Spurs, who went down to Adel Taarabt's goal in Saturday's late kick-off at Loftus Road.

   2012 April 21, Jonathan Jurejko, “Newcastle 3-0 Stoke”, in BBC Sport

1. biblicalThe final book of the New Testament of the Bible; its events.

   He had drunk more than was fit for him, and he was singing some light song, when he saw approaching, as he said, the pale horse mentioned in the Revelation, with Death seated as the rider.

   1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide

   Synonyms: Rev., The Apocalypse, The Apocalypse of John, The Book of Revelation, The Revelation of St. John the Divine, The Revelation to John