Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- (often initial capital letter) the announcement by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary of her conception of Christ.
- (initial capital letter) a representation of this in art.
- (initial capital letter) Also called Lady Day. the church festival on March 25 in memory of this.
- an act or instance of announcing; proclamation: the annunciation of a new foreign policy.
noun
- the Annunciation New Testament the announcement of the Incarnation by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26–38)
- Also called: Annunciation Day the festival commemorating this, held on March 25 (Lady Day)
early 14c., “Lady Day,” from Anglo-French anunciacioun, Old French anonciacion, from Latin annuntiationem (nominative annuntiatio), noun of action from past participle stem of annuntiare (see announce). The Church festival (March 25) commemorating the visit of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, foretelling the incarnation. General sense of “an announcing” is from 1560s. Old English for “Annunciation Day” was bodungdæg.
An announcement made by the angel Gabriel to Mary, the mother of Jesus, that she was going to bear a son, even though she was a virgin. Her son was to be called Jesus.