A person who embodies a quality or idea in physical form, or a divine being taking physical form (often used in religious contexts).
From Latin 'incarnatio' (embodiment in flesh), from 'incarnare' (to make flesh), combining 'in-' (in) and 'caro' (flesh). The 'carne-' root also appears in 'carnival' and 'carnage.'
The word 'incarnation' shares the same 'carne' (flesh) root with 'carnival,' 'carnage,' and 'carnivore'—showing how medieval Latin combined flesh-related concepts from eating to festivals to spiritual embodiment!
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