c.1374, "clearly revealed," from L.
manifestus "caught in the act, plainly apprehensible, clear, evident," from
manus "hand" (see
manual) +
-festus "struck" (cf. second element of
infest). The noun sense of "ship's cargo" is from 1706. The verb sense of "to show plainly" is c.1374, from L.
manifestare. In the spiritualism sense,
manifestation is attested from 1853.
"Other nations have tried to check ... the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the Continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions." [John O'Sullivan (1813-1895), "U.S. Magazine & Democratic Review," July 1845]