/ ˌɪnkɑːˈneɪʃn; NAmE -kɑːrˈn-/ noun
1.
[ C ] a period of life in a particular form :
one of the incarnations of Vishnu
He believed he had been a prince in a previous incarnation.
( figurative )
I worked for her in her earlier incarnation (= her previous job) as a lawyer.
2.
[ C ] a person who represents a particular quality, for example, in human form
SYN embodiment :
the incarnation of evil
3.
[ sing. , U ] (also the Incarnation ) ( in Christianity ) the act of God coming to earth in human form as Jesus
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (as a term in Christian theology): via Old French from ecclesiastical Latin incarnatio(n-) , from the verb incarnare , from in- into + caro , carn- flesh.