If you say that someone is the incarnation of a particular quality, you mean that they represent that quality or are typical of it in an extreme form.
The regime was the very incarnation of evil. [+ of]
She is a perfect incarnation of glamour.
Synonyms: embodiment, manifestation, epitome, type More Synonyms of incarnation
2. countable noun
An incarnation is an instance of being alive on Earth in a particular form. Some religions believe that people have several incarnations in different forms.
She began recalling a series of previous incarnations.
His industry and persistence suggest that he was an ant in a previous incarnation.
incarnation in British English
(ˌɪnkɑːˈneɪʃən)
noun
1.
the act of manifesting or state of being manifested in bodily form, esp human form
2.
a bodily form assumed by a god, etc
3.
a person or thing that typifies or represents some quality, idea, etc
the weasel is the incarnation of ferocity
Incarnation in British English
(ˌɪnkɑːˈneɪʃən)
noun
1. Christian theology
the assuming of a human body by the Son of God
2. Christianity
the presence of God on Earth in the person of Jesus
incarnation in American English
(ˌɪnkɑrˈneɪʃən)
noun
1.
endowment with a human body; appearance in human form
2.
any person or animal serving as the embodiment of a god or spirit
3.
any person or thing serving as the type or embodiment of a quality or concept
the incarnation of courage
Idioms:
the Incarnation
Word origin
ME incarnacion < OFr incarnatiun < LL(Ec) incarnatio < pp. of incarnari: see incarnate
Examples of 'incarnation' in a sentence
incarnation
I hadn't told him, and he hadn't mentioned that his exploits in his Siegwald incarnation had included killing a huge wolf.
Harris, Elizabeth TIME OF THE WOLF (2003)
In spirit and body, he was the incarnation of She-who-must-be-obeyed.
Appiganesi, Lisa DREAMS OF INNOCENCE (2003)
They had explained nothing about their songs or their musical influences, or their previous incarnation as Radical Jive.
David Cavanagh MUSIC FOR BOYS (2003)
By its eerie light he looked at Vesper, wondering which incarnation he was seeing.
Lustbader, Eric FLOATING CITY (2003)
In other languages
incarnation
British English: incarnation NOUN
to be the incarnation of sth If you say that someone is the incarnation of a particular quality, you mean that they are typical of that quality in an extreme form.
The regime was the very incarnation of evil.
American English: incarnation
Brazilian Portuguese: encarnação
Chinese: 典型
European Spanish: encarnación
French: incarnation
German: Inbegriff
Italian: incarnazione
Japanese: 具体化した姿
Korean: 화신
European Portuguese: encarnação
Latin American Spanish: encarnación
(noun)
Definition
a person or thing that typifies some quality or idea
She is a perfect incarnation of courage.
Synonyms
embodiment
A baby is the embodiment of vulnerability.
manifestation
epitome
The countess was the epitome of sophistication.
type
impersonation
personification
Janis Joplin was the personification of the '60s female rock singer.
avatar
exemplification
bodily form
Additional synonyms
in the sense of epitome
Definition
a person or thing that is a typical example of a characteristic or class
The countess was the epitome of sophistication.
Synonyms
personification,
essence,
embodiment,
type,
representation,
norm,
archetype,
exemplar,
typical example,
quintessence
in the sense of exemplification
Synonyms
example,
illustration,
representation,
prototype,
manifestation,
paradigm,
embodiment,
epitome,
exemplar,
personification
in the sense of personification
Janis Joplin was the personification of the '60s female rock singer.