transfigure
/trænzˈfɪɡ.jə/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To change the appearance or form of something completely, often in a beautiful or surprising way. It is stronger and more dramatic than simply changing or improving something.
- The sunlight transfigured the old house.
- Her kindness transfigured the atmosphere in the room.
- The artist transfigured scrap metal into art.
Adinary Nuance
Transfigure is more dramatic than transform, and more vivid than change. Writers use it when the change feels complete, striking, or almost magical. It often suggests beauty, not just difference. You would not usually use it for small everyday changes.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- biến hình
- Spanish
- transfigurar
- Chinese
- 变形
- Japanese
- 変容させる
- Korean
- 변형시키다
Etymology
Transfigure comes from Latin transfigurare, meaning “change shape or form.” It entered English through Old French in the late Middle Ages.
Common phrases
transfigure intobe transfigured bytransfigure the landscape
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is transfigure a common everyday word?
- No, it is uncommon in daily speech. You will see it more in literature, formal writing, or religious contexts.
- How is transfigure different from transform?
- Transform is general and common. Transfigure suggests a deeper, more striking, or more beautiful change.
- Can I use transfigure in business writing?
- Usually no. In business writing, transform or change is clearer and more natural.