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To adumbrate is to describe something incompletely or to suggest future events based on limited current knowledge.
Augury is the process or art of reading omens about the future through specific ceremonies.
A conundrum is a problem or puzzle that is difficult or impossible to solve.
When you decipher a message or piece of writing, you work out what it says, even though it is very difficult to read or understand.
A denouement is the end of a book, play, or series of events when everything is explained and comes to a conclusion.
To divulge something is to reveal information that was once private or secret.
An epiphany is the moment when someone suddenly realizes or understands something of great significance or importance.
Exegesis is a detailed explanation or interpretation of a piece of writing, especially a religious one.
To explicate an idea or plan is to make it clear by explaining it.
An exposition is a detailed explanation or setting forth of an idea, theory, or problem, either in a written or spoken format.
When you expound something, you explain it in great detail, often taking a while to do so.
If you fathom something complicated or mysterious, you are able to understand it.
A garbled message or speech is confusing and not understandable, often because it is spoken in a hurry or is communicated with lots of accompanying noise.
A harbinger is a sign that foretells that something is going to happen, especially something bad.
An illustrative example serves to explain or describe something, often by providing pictures.
Someone who is speaking in an incoherent fashion cannot be understood or is very hard to understand.
Something that is latent, such as an undiscovered talent or undiagnosed disease, exists but is not active or has not developed at the moment—it may develop or become active in the future.
If you describe something as nebulous, you mean that it is unclear, vague, and not clearly defined; a shape that is nebulous has no clear boundaries.
To obfuscate something is to make it deliberately unclear, confusing, and difficult to understand.
If you are oblivious to something that is happening, you do not notice it.
An ominous sign predicts or shows that something bad will happen in the near future.
Something is opaque if it is either difficult to understand or is not transparent.
A portent is a warning that indicates what is likely to happen in the future, which is usually something unpleasant.
To presage a future event is to give a sign or warning that something (usually) bad is about to happen.
To prognosticate is to predict or forecast something.
Something or someone that is prophetic has the quality or ability to predict the future.
Stupor is a state in which someone’s mind and senses are dulled; consequently, they are unable to think clearly or act normally.
If you employ subterfuge, you use a secret plan or action to get what you want by outwardly doing one thing that cleverly hides your true intentions.
Something that is vaporous is not completely formed but foggy and misty; in the same vein, a vaporous idea is insubstantial and vague.
Noun
revelation
rev-uh-LAY-shuhn
Context
The revelation or big surprise at the end of my book still shocks me. I had no idea that revelation or once-secret information was coming! My best friend read the book before me, but she didn’t tell me the story’s revelation or uncovering of that important plot point. I can’t wait to talk about this revelation or discovery of key details with her—maybe I’ll read the story again now that I know its amazing ending!
Quiz:Try again!
What is a revelation?
It is a plan to keep information secret from the public.
It is the discovery of some surprising information.
It is permission to go to an event for the first time.
Revealing Action A revelation is a revealing action.
Examples
Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.
— Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer, pianist, and conductor
On Thursday, “Veep” and “Seinfeld” star Julia Louis-Dreyfus announced that she has breast cancer, and used the revelation to call for universal health care in the U.S., drawing an emotional show of support.
—
NBC News
A revelation is etymologically the “act of rolling back a curtain” so as to reveal what is beneath it.
Word Theater
Back to the Future Doc had a revelation which told him how to invent travel back in time.
The panel shows a small video clip of either the word in actual use or a scene that represents the meaning of a word. This not only breaks up the monotony of studying words but also provides another avenue to strengthen word meaning. Enjoy!
Word Constellation
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Related Words
adumbrate ·
augury ·
decipher ·
denouement ·
divulge+ ·
epiphany+ ·
exegesis ·
explicate ·
exposition+ ·
expound ·
fathom ·
harbinger ·
illustrative ·
ominous ·
portent+ ·
presage ·
prognosticate ·
prophetic+ ·
conundrum+ ·
garbled ·
incoherent ·
latent ·
nebulous+ ·
obfuscate+ ·
oblivious ·
opaque+ ·
stupor ·
subterfuge ·
vaporous+ ·
Similar sense
Opposite sense
Word Variants
revelatory
adj
→
showing or disclosing
revealing
adj
→
showing or disclosing
The section lists important variants and alternate definitions of the headword. Knowing variants will often help you both remember and understand the word. Not all variants are listed - only the ones we think that are important for you to know.