resurrection
noun
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The word resurrection first arose in English in the 14th century, coming from the Anglo-French word resurreccioun, which in turn comes from the Late Latin verb resurgere, meaning “to rise from the dead.” Originally, the word was used in Christian contexts to refer to the rising of Christ from the dead or to the festival celebrating this rising (now known as Easter). Perhaps showing the influence of the Late Latin verb resurgere’s Latin forerunner, which could mean “to rise again” (as from a recumbent position) as well as “to spring up again after being cut” (used of plants), resurrection soon began to be used more generally in the senses of “resurgence” or “revival.” It even forms part of the name of the resurrection fern, an iconic fern of the southern United States often seen growing on the limbs of live oak trees. The fern is so named due to the fact that in dry weather it curls up, turns brown, and appears dead, only to be “brought back to life” when exposed to moisture.
Examples of resurrection in a Sentence
Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
Each year, Christians celebrate this resurrection at Easter and marvel at the potential for the moribund to become filled with life again.
—Joshua Stanton, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
Good Friday is a time when Christians commemorate Christ’s suffering and death, followed by celebrating his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
Successful resurrections of dormant organisms have rarely been documented, according to the researchers.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for resurrection
Cite this Entry
“Resurrection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resurrection. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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resurrection
noun
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