Final answer:
The word 'manifestations' refers to the various ways something can appear or be displayed, often with concrete expressions that make a concept or phenomenon apparent to the senses or mind.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term manifestations refers to the various forms in which something can appear or be exhibited. In the context provided, this could relate to an event, such as the appearance of a figure, which may bring to mind certain images or figures from religious or historical backgrounds. An example could be the manifestation of a ghostly apparition, which might evoke feelings of mystery, fear, or curiosity. This word suggests that there are concrete expressions or evidence of a concept or phenomenon, making it apparent to the senses or mind. In literary analysis, manifestations could be elements in the text that make the author's intentions or themes more evident to the reader. The sentence also indicates that without physical evidence, one must rely on other types of evidence that are commonly accepted for similar phenomena, and these become the 'preferred' understanding until new evidence emerges.