What does the word transfigured mean?

Transfigured means to change one’s appearance.  When Jesus was transfigured on the mountain He showed Peter, James, and John just a small portion of His glory (Matthew 17:1-2).  Jesus went from looking like an ordinary man (Philippians 2:7) to the Son of God (Revelation 1:12-16).  Even though Jesus changed His appearance to show Peter, James, and John a truth about Himself, He still had to veil His full glory because if He would not have, they would have died (Exodus 33:20).  Even in His veiled glory, the three disciples were so awestruck they couldn’t truly understand what was going on (Matthew 17:4-6).  We truly won’t know to true glory of Christ until we see Him sitting on high in Heaven, but we do have a small glimpse of this wonderment through His Word.