Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Revelation has 6 different meanings across 2 categories:
the speech act of making something evident
"The detective's revelation that the witness was lying changed the entire direction of the investigation."
an enlightening or astonishing disclosure
"The archaeologist's discovery was a revelation that completely changed our understanding of ancient civilization."
communication of knowledge to man by a divine or supernatural agency
"The sudden revelation told by the prophet convinced the people that their suffering was part of God's plan."
the last book of the New Testament; contains visionary descriptions of heaven and of conflicts between good and evil and of the end of the world; attributed to Saint John the Apostle
"Many Christians turn to Revelation at the end of their Bibles for its dramatic visions of the final battle between good and evil."
The act of revealing or disclosing.
"The sudden revelation of his true identity shocked everyone in the room."
In plain English: A revelation is something surprising that you suddenly discover and realize was true all along.
"The shocking revelation changed everything we thought we knew about him."
The final book of the New Testament of the Bible.
"After reading Revelation, she understood why her church always begins its Sunday service with that powerful vision from John."
The word "revelation" comes from the Old French revelacion and Latin revēlātiō, originally meaning a disclosure or uncovering of something hidden. It entered English through Middle English with this same sense of revealing what was previously covered up.