incarnation
/ˌɪnkɑːˈneɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪnkɑːrˈneɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌin-(ˌ)kär-ˈnā-shən/ (ame, mw)
incarnation — noun
- incarnationsingular
- incarnationsplural
1. In religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, each separate life a soul passes thr
In religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, each separate life a soul passes through on its journey from birth to death and on to another birth.
In Hindu belief, each incarnation brings the soul closer to final freedom.
each + incarnation + bring + closer to [goal]
Deepa's grandmother spoke calmly about her past incarnation as a village healer in northern India.
past incarnation + as + role
Some Buddhists believe that kind actions in one incarnation lead to a better next life.
According to the teacher, a soul may pass through many incarnations before reaching peace.
The old monk described his previous incarnation as a farmer who helped travellers.
- death
an incarnation ends with death, which leads to the next incarnation
文法句型
someone's + incarnation
in a previous/next incarnation
用法筆記
Often used with a possessive pronoun or adjective (my / his / her / its / previous / next incarnation). Most common in discussions of Eastern religious traditions.
常見錯誤
2. A particular physical form or version that something takes as it develops, chang
A particular physical form or version that something takes as it develops, changes, or appears in new circumstances — for example, the latest version of an app, or a building that has been remodelled several times.
The latest incarnation of the app includes a much faster search tool.
latest incarnation + of [product]
This café is a modern incarnation of the tea house my grandfather ran in Kyoto.
In its current incarnation, the park has a wide lake and several bicycle paths.
Wei's art project is a digital incarnation of a folk tale about dragons and rivers.
The school's new incarnation as a science academy brought more lab equipment and computers.
- version
more neutral and common; less tied to creative or conceptual change
- form
simpler and broader; works for any shape or arrangement
- manifestation
more formal; emphasises that something abstract becomes visible
文法句型
[adjective] + incarnation + of + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
Frequently appears with adjectives such as 'latest', 'current', 'modern', 'new', or 'original'. The focus is on something that has changed form but keeps its core identity.
常見錯誤
3. A person who seems to be the perfect or extreme example of a particular quality
A person who seems to be the perfect or extreme example of a particular quality or type of behaviour — for instance, calling someone the incarnation of kindness, cruelty, or evil.
To her old students, Ms. Hana was the very incarnation of patience and good humour.
the very incarnation + of + [quality]
In the novel, the factory owner is a terrifying incarnation of greed and cruelty.
Critics called the dictator the living incarnation of tyranny and oppression.
For the neighbourhood children, old Pablo was the incarnation of warmth, always sharing homemade sweets.
The young activist became the incarnation of hope for villagers fighting for clean water.
- embodiment
the closest synonym; slightly less dramatic
- personification
emphasises that an abstract idea is represented as a person
- epitome
more formal; suggests a perfect example of a type
- quintessence
very formal; the purest form of a quality
- antithesis
the exact opposite — e.g. 'the antithesis of kindness'
文法句型
the (very/living) incarnation + of + [quality]
用法筆記
Almost always preceded by 'the very', 'the living', or simply 'the' for emphasis. The quality named is usually abstract and emotionally strong (beauty, evil, kindness, greed).
常見錯誤
4. In Christian theology, the act of God appearing on earth as a human being in the
In Christian theology, the act of God appearing on earth as a human being in the person of Jesus Christ.
The incarnation of Christ is a central belief in Christian churches around the world.
the incarnation + of + [divine being]
Many Christmas hymns celebrate the incarnation as a moment of divine love and sacrifice.
The priest explained the meaning of the incarnation to the children during Sunday school.
Scholars have debated the theological implications of the incarnation for many centuries.
Rosa studied the doctrine of the incarnation in her university course on world religions.
- embodiment
general term for a spirit or quality taking physical form
- enfleshment
rare, theological synonym specific to Christian doctrine
- humanation
very rare, academic synonym for God becoming human
文法句型
the Incarnation
incarnation of [deity] + in/as + [human form]
用法筆記
Often capitalised as 'the Incarnation' when referring specifically to the Christian event. In broader religious studies, lowercase 'incarnation' can refer to any deity taking human form.