visitationn.
/ˌvɪzᵻˈteɪʃn/, U.S. /ˌvɪzəˈteɪʃən/ I. Senses relating to a visit made for formal purposes or friendly intercourse.
1. The action, on the part of one in authority, or of a duly qualified or authorized person, of going to a particular place in order to make an inspection and satisfy himself that everything is in order; an instance of such inspection or supervision.
a. A visit by an ecclesiastical person (or body) to examine into the state of a diocese, parish, religious institution, etc.; spec. in English use, such a visit paid by a bishop or archdeacon; a meeting or gathering of persons concerned in such a visit.Quotations for an archdeacon's visitation are placed separately under (b).
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > [noun] > visit by
visitation1303
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > archdeacon > [noun] > visit by
visitation1303
(a)
(b)1536 Dunmow Churchw. MS. f. 22 b Item payd at the ffessytacyon, iiiid.1537 Dunmow Churchw. MS. f. 23 Item payd at Chelmsford at the Vesytacyon for howr costs, xviiid.1566 in E. Peacock Eng. Church Furnit. (1866) 56 Imprimis a box made of bone sold to Jho Wattes sens the last visitacion who keeps yt to put monney in.1603 Constit. & Canons cxi In all Visitations of Bishops and Archdeacons, the Church-wardens..shall..present the names of all those which behaue themselues rudely..in the Church.1692 H. Prideaux Lett. (1875) 152 I have yours of the 16th, but it came not to my hands till last Friday, for I was absent at Ipswich on a visitation.1713 E. Gibson Codex Juris Eccl. Anglicani 999 If any Archdeacons are entituled to require Exhibits in their Visitations, it can only be upon the foot of Custom.1726 J. Ayliffe Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani 96 For the Bishop ought to visit his Diocess every Year in his own Person, unless he thinks fit to omit the same,..and then in such a Case he ought to send his Archdeacon, which was the Original of the Archdeacons Visitation.1842 Words to Churchwardens (Cambr. Camd. Soc.) i. 3 The Archdeacon at his Visitation seldom ends his charge without a few words to us Churchwardens.1857 J. Toulmin Smith Parish (new ed.) 94 The articles of Visitation issued by him, when archdeacon in 1713, as to be answered by all churchwardens.(c)1727 P. Walker Some Remarkable Passages Semple, Welwood & Cameron 4 There were few parochial Visitations..but he was at them, for encouraging of laborious godly Ministers, and censuring of such as were scandalous.1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 2103 He [an abbot] went hys wey To Palestyne, þat ys an abbey, To make hys vysytacyun As falleþ yn relygyun.
1401 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 21 Why be ye not under your bishops visitations, and leege men to our king?
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Riii Abbot Pyor..whiche amonge a greate multitude of fathers & bretherne, gathered to gyther, in maner of a visitacion..dyd in this wyse.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. cxliij The Cardinall by Visitacions, makyng of Abbottes,..and other pollynges..had made his threasore egall with the kynges.
1591 E. Spenser Prosopopoia in Complaints 569 All their Parishners..to the Ordinarie of them complain'd,..Till at the length he published to holde A Visitation, and them cyted thether.
1661 J. Stephens Hist. Disc. Procur. 17 For what are Visitations other then laborious travellings from place to place?
1739 T. Herring in J. Duncombe Lett. Several Eminent Persons Deceased (1773) II. 132 It was the year of my primary visitation, and I determined to see every part of my diocese.
1761 Bp. W. Warburton Lett. (1809) 326 I fancy my Visitation..will be the last week in June and the first in July.
1827 H. Hallam Constit. Hist. Eng. I. ii. 75 Wolsey, as papal legate..commenced a visitation of the professed as well as secular clergy in 1523.
b. A visit of inspection made by one or more persons having civil authority or jurisdiction or specially appointed to exercise supervision within a certain sphere; the making of such visits; †the body of persons making an inspection of this kind. †visitation of maners: see quot. 1607 and mainour n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > inspection, survey > [noun] > formal or official > as visit
visitation1533
visit1787
site visit1948
society > authority > office > holder of office > public officials > [noun] > forest or park officials > position of
ridership1449
rangership1464
visitation of maners1533
forestershipa1634
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > inspection, survey > [noun] > formal or official > as visit > person conducting > collectively
visitation1665
1533–4 Act 25 Hen. VIII c. 21 §14 Redresse visitacion and confirmacion shalbe had by the Kynges Highnes.
1556 in J. G. Nichols Chron. Grey Friars (1852) 54 Item the v. day after in September [1547] beganne the kynges vysytacion at Powlles, and alle imagys pullyd downe.
1607 J. Cowell Interpreter sig. Zzz1/1 Visitation of maners..was wont to be the name of the Regarders office in auncient time.
1665 in W. Campbell Ch. & Par. Kirkaldy 84 The visitation present appoynts the school to be visited four times in the year.
1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses I. 327 On the 8. of Nov...the Visitation of his Library is commonly made.
1773 Gentleman's Mag. 43 349 Sir Thomas Pye..has it in command from the King to acquaint [certain admirals, captains, etc.] that he is pleased with their attention during his visitation at Portsmouth.
a1832 A. Polson Eng. Law in Encycl. Metrop. (1845) II. 826/1 It was held, that in default of..a special visitor appointed by the founder or charter, the king, in the person of his chancellor, had the right of visitation.
1874 J. C. Bucknill & D. H. Tuke Man. Psychol. Med. (ed. 3) 2 The bill of 1828, by which the Secretary of State was allowed to appoint fifteen Commissioners annually, for the license and visitation of those houses which had been previously licensed by the College of Physicians.
c. A periodic visit made to a district by heralds to examine and enrol arms and pedigrees. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > heraldry > herald > [noun] > visit by herald to examine arms, etc.
visitation1572
1572 N. Roscarrock in J. Bossewell Wks. Armorie sig. C.iij Of dubbing knights, the orders ther they haue... With visitacions, which allottes to ech desert his right.
1640 J. Yorke Union of Honour To Rdr. For the Armes of our Lincolnshire Gentlemen, I haue taken their knowledge from themselues, and by Visitations.
1849 R. Sims (title) An Index to the Pedigrees and Arms contained in the Heralds' Visitations.
1864 C. Boutell Heraldry Hist. & Pop. (ed. 3) xiii. 133 The Records of these Visitations are preserved in the College of Arms.
d. In general use: Examination, inspection.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > [noun]
inspection1390
search1415
probationc1422
ensearchingc1430
surview1432
enserchise1436
overseeingc1449
sight1452
hearkeninga1483
discuting1483
ensearcha1509
inquiry1512
upsightc1515
perusing1556
perpending1558
overlooking1565
interview1567
trial1575
peruse1578
visitation1583
perspective?a1586
overviewing1590
looking over1599
sounding1599
perusal1604
supervise1604
disquisition1605
expiscation1605
prospect1625
ravellinga1626
disquiry1628
disquisitive1660
perpendment1667
inspecting1788
sleuthing1900
casing1928
1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus (new ed.) sig. Eiij v The old huddle missing his monye at his next visitation, toke the haulter and hanged himselfe.
1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (authorized ed.) i. §16 I cannot tell by what Logick we call a Toad, a Beare, or an Elephant, ugly, they..having past that generall visitation of God, who saw that all that he had made was good. View more context for this quotation
e. spec. Examination of goods by a customs officer or similar official; the action on the part of a belligerent vessel of ascertaining, by entry or close examination, the character of a merchant ship belonging to a neutral state.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > duty on goods > imposition or collecting of duties on goods > [noun] > search or examination of goods or vessels
search1442
visitation1755
rummage1757
society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > operations or manoeuvres > [noun] > searching or examining
visitation1867
1755 N. Magens Ess. Insurances II. 513 Where these Goods shall be subject to Visitation in the same manner, as those which are made in the Kingdom.
1826 J. Kent Comm. Amer. Law I. ii. 31 Maritime states claim, upon a principle just in itself, and temperately applied, a right of visitation.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. 714 The law of nations gives to every belligerent cruiser the right of visitation and search of all merchant ships.
2. in extended use.1821 W. Scott Kenilworth III. iv. 59 Lambourne, on whom his last draught, joined to repeated visitation of the pitcher upon former occasions, began to make some innovation.
a. The action of going to a place, either for some special purpose or merely in order to see it; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > [noun] > visiting a place
bisocnec1175
visitationc1386
resortc1425
c1386 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Prol. 555 Therfore I made my visitacions To vigilies, and to processions To prechyng eek and to thise pilgrimages.
1654 R. Codrington tr. Justinus Hist. xxxviii. 456 The Ambassadors of the Romans..made a visitation into those parts to observe the condition and kingdoms of their Confederates.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 172 We took the way by Tor, partly to see it, and partly to take a Monk to guide us in our visitations.
1720 R. Welton tr. T. Alvares de Andrade Sufferings Son of God II. xviii. 495 The Blessed Jesus..found Time enough to make His Circular Visitation thro' all those Towns in and about Palestine.
a1774 O. Goldsmith Surv. Exper. Philos. (1776) I. 395 In this manner we find, that no part of nature is wholly secluded from human visitation.
1829 E. Bulwer-Lytton Devereux I. i. viii. 72 The town was a favourite place of visitation with all the family.
1832 G. Downes Lett. from Continental Countries I. 311 We proceeded from hence to the Church of St. Mary Segreta, and terminated our visitation at that of the Holy Sepulchre.
1866 J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices I. xxvii. 654 As they possessed estates in widely distant places, it was an object to them that they should have easy and convenient means of visitation.
b. poetic. The object of a visit. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > [noun] > visiting a place > object of
visitation1667
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 275 O flours,..My early visitation, and my last At Eev'n, which I bred up with tender hand. View more context for this quotation
c. The action, on the part of animals, of resorting to a particular place at certain seasons, or of exceptionally appearing in places which are not their usual habitat.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by habits or actions > habits and actions > [noun] > migration
migrationa1633
visitation1774
migrating1815
flight1823
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth VI. 330 Along the coasts of Norway,..these animals are found punctual in their visitations.
3.
a. The action or practice of visiting sick or distressed persons as a work of charity or pastoral duty.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > compassion > [noun] > an act of
pitoustya1382
visitationc1430
society > society and the community > social attitudes > philanthropy > [noun] > visiting for philanthropic purposes
visitingc1374
visitationc1430
slumming1884
society > faith > worship > other practices > [noun] > visitation
visitationc1430
c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (E.E.T.S.) 79 Whan Abackuk..Broughte potage in to Babyloun,..Affter figure this mater to conveye, How almesse-dede and vysytacyoun Gretly avaylleth to sowlys whan they deye.
1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. v. 120 And as to them that ben seke contynuell visitacion of them.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Visitacion of Sicke f. xviii* (heading) The order for the visitacion of the sicke.
1583 in Wodrow Soc. Misc. (1844) 460 As tuitching the Visitatioun of the seik, he declairit he was..glad to wissie the puirest creatour.
1777 J. Brand Observ. Pop. Antiq. 379 In performing..the Service appropriated to the Visitation of the Sick with one of these Men (who died a few Days after).
1795 W. Paley Clergyman's Compan. Pref. The offices of Public and Private Baptism, though no ways relating to the visitation of the Sick, are retained.
1862 Chambers's Encycl. III. 180 The Church of England..retains private confession in the rubric for visitation of the sick.
1886 T. L. Kington-Oliphant New Eng. I. 160 An office for the Visitation of the sick, which dates from about 1390.
b. The action of pastoral visiting on the part of a clergyman.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > other practices > [noun] > visitation > on part of clergyman
visitation1546
society > leisure > social event > visit > visiting > [noun] > by clergyman
visitation1546
1546 in W. Page Certificates Chantries County of York (1895) II. 253 The curate beinge of visitacion in the one parte of his paroch, cannot com to the church by the space of ij dayes.
1817 W. Scott Rob Roy I. iii. 58 Country parsons, jogging homewards after a visitation.
1911 T. B. Kilpatrick New Test. Evangelism iii. ii. §2. 167 The Work of Visitation. Every minister knows that this may be the most profitable part of his pastoral duty...The work of visitation can never be stereotyped.
4.
a. the Visitation (of our Lady), the visit paid by the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth, recorded in Luke i. 39 ff.; hence elliptical, the day on which this is commemorated, July 2; also, a picture representing the event.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > liturgical year > feast, festival > specific Christian festivals > Feast of Visitation (2 July) > [noun]
the Visitation (of our Lady)1498
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > painting > painting according to subject > [noun] > religious painting > picture by subject
majestyc1450
the Visitation (of our Lady)1498
Our Lady Piety1533
annunciation1556
nativity1646
Pietàc1660
noli me tangerea1684
virgina1684
glory1708
flagellation1728
scourging1757
Mater Dolorosa1800
crucifixion1841
hortus conclusus1852
Hodegetria1880
Gethsemane1901
anastasis1995
1498 Coventry Leet Bk. 588 This ȝere the Chaptur of blak monkes was kept at Couentre aboute þe visitacion of our Lady.
a1549 A. Borde Fyrst Bk. Introd. Knowl. (1870) xiv. 161 I haue seen snowe in somer on saynct Peters day and the Vysytacion of our Ladye.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues (at cited word) The feast of the Visitation of our Ladie.
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1644 (1955) II. 233 There are in it divers good Pictures; as the Assumption..; The Crucifix, the Visitation of Eliz:.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. (at cited word) The Visitation of the Virgin Mary is a feast instituted first by pope Urban IV. in the year 1389.
1880 F. Meyrick in W. Smith & S. Cheetham Dict. Christian Antiq. II. 1140/1 Among the black-letter or second-class festivals [in the Anglican calendar] occur:—1. The Visitation, July 2nd.
1880 tr. Woltmann & Woermann's Hist. Paint. I. 420 The Visitation..in which..the expression of Elizabeth surprises by its individuality.
b. the (order of the) Visitation, the Visitandine order of nuns.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > monasticism > religious order > other religions > Order of Visitation > [noun]
the (order of the) Visitation1701
1701 in Publ. Catholic Rec. Soc. (1909) 7 94 We were at the Nuns of the Visitation, St. Frances de Sales' Festivall.
1759 A. Butler Lives Saints IV. 996 He [St. Francis of Sales] then mentioned his project of forming a new establishment of a congregation of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary.
1864 J. H. Newman Apologia (1904) iv. 143/1 There was a lady, now a nun of the Visitation, to whom at this time I wrote the following letters.
1899 A. Shield in Dublin Rev. July 64 To visit the Nuns of the Visitation in their convent at Chaillot, founded by Queen Henrietta Maria.
5.
a. The action of making a friendly or formal call or calls; social intercourse of this nature; visiting.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > visit > visiting > [noun]
visitingc1374
visitationa1586
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. xviii. sig. Tt1v He..so much abhorred all visitation or honour,..that he besought his two noble friends to carrie him away to a castle not far of.
1588 R. Parke tr. J. G. de Mendoza Hist. Kingdome of China 190 Many of the Gentlemen of the cittie did go vnto the Spaniards to visite them..in the which visitation they spent all the whole day.
1605 Journ. of Earl of Nottingham 50 Sunday, Munday and Tuesday were..spent onely in visitation and matters of complement with one or other.
1631 T. May tr. J. Barclay Mirrour of Mindes ii. 81 Because there was acquaintance betweene the two families, this youth was brought by way of visitation to the Ladies lodging.
1643 R. Baker Chron. Kings of Eng. i. 169 The King of Scots came for businesse and visitation.
1819 G. Crabbe Tales of Hall I. ix. 225 How much she grieved to lose the given day In dissipation wild, in visitation gay.
1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VIII. 411 Family visitation [of the insane] should be prohibited.
b. An instance of such visiting; a visit.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > visit > [noun]
visitation1581
visitinga1586
visit1626
home visit1750
visitment1754
to give (someone) a look up1852
call1862
ceilidh1875
klatsch1953
1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) iii. 157 b The chaunces of these visitations in deede are so often, and so many, that they spend six daies of the week in them.
1588 R. Parke tr. J. G. de Mendoza Hist. Kingdome of China 176 He..was more familiar than at his first visitation.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 17 Men of best quality will easily beleeve, that their name is knowne among strangers, and they take these visitations for honours done them.
1629 J. Wadsworth Eng. Spanish Pilgrime viii. 83 Which Letters and visitations I entertained vntill my Mother had paid my debts.
1642 G. Eglisham Fore-runner of Revenge (new ed.) 14 Hee knowing Buckinghams visitation to proceed of dissimulation, requested your petitioner..to finde the meanes to get him away quickly.
1786 A. M. Bennett Juvenile Indiscretions I. 180 As he attended Mr. Orthodox to the door, to press his early visitation next morning.
1798 S. Lee Young Lady's Tale in H. Lee Canterbury Tales II. 509 Feasts and visitations occupied the Duke.
a1817 J. Austen Watsons in Wks. (1954) VI. 343 In the occurrences of a Visitation..she heard Mr. Howard spoken of as the Preacher.
1877 W. Black Green Pastures & Piccadilly I. ii. 24 Her father, hearing that she contemplated some charitable visitation of the kind, had strictly forbidden it.
c. A prolonged visit, or one which is disagreeable to the recipient.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > visit > [noun] > prolonged or unwelcome
visitation1819
1819 Metropolis (ed. 2) I. 231 She now went on a visitation (for her visits are far beyond the common length) to Lord ——.
d. A gathering at the home of a deceased person before the funeral takes place; a wake. U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > obsequies > [noun] > home of deceased > gathering at
visitation1974
1974 Amer. Speech 1971 46 70 Another interesting Boston area universal was the use, even among Protestants, of wake for what is elsewhere in the state often called a visitation.
1976 N. Thornburg Cutter & Bone iii. 75 ‘The goddamn funeral,’ he explained. ‘Or what do they call it the day before—visitation?’
1983 Chicago Sun-Times 27 Sept. 18 An acquaintance in the life insurance business showed up at the visitation and proceeded to solicit business... What kind of a person would latch onto an opportunity to solicit business at a wake?
II. Senses relating to a divine or supernatural visit, often made to dispense retributive justice, and related uses.
6. The action, on the part of God or some supernatural power, of coming to, or exercising power over, a person or people for some end:
a. In order to encourage, comfort, or aid.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > [noun] > activities of god(s) > visitation or epiphany
visitationc1340
visitinga1382
epiphanya1667
avatar1789
c1340 R. Rolle Prose Treat. 19 If he..halde it a specyalle vesytacyon of oure Lorde, and thynke it mare þan it es.
c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 72 Whan God of his grete visitacioun, List out of this worlde for hym to sende.
c1450 Mirk's Festial 41 Syr, ȝe mowe blesse þe tyme þat ȝe wer borne, forto haue suche vysitacion, as I now haue herde.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. viiv Now drawe ye therfore holefull water of lore of my wellys, & that wt Ioy, for ye tyme of youre vysytacyon is comyn.
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. xxiii. 53 For which cause we see that the most comfortable visitations, which God hath sent men from aboue, haue [etc.].
1643 J. Caryl Expos. Job (1676) I. 636 Mercies are visitations; when God comes in kindness and love to do us good, he visiteth us.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 22 My Celestial Patroness, who deignes Her nightly visitation unimplor'd. View more context for this quotation
a1741 T. Chalkley Wks. (1766) 86 The merciful Visitations of that High and Lofty One who inhabits Eternity!
1814 W. Wordsworth Excursion i. 14 In such high hour Of visitation from the living God, Thought was not. View more context for this quotation
1841–8 F. Myers Catholic Thoughts II. iii. §9. 34 In such a high hour of religious visitation and in this etherial region..the Divine Spirit may mingle with the Human.
b. In order to test, try, examine, or judge.
ΚΠ
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 1 Pet. v. 6 Therfor be ȝe mekid vndir the miȝty hond of God, that he reise ȝou in the day of visitacioun.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke xix. 44 And thei schulen not leeue in thee a stoon on a stoon, for thou hast not knowe the tyme of thi visitacioun.
a1450 Mankind 281 in Macro Plays 11 Lyke as þe smyth trieth ern in þe feer, So was he triede by Godis vysytacyon.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. AAAii It maketh hym..glad to receyue the visitacion of our lorde, what so euer it be.
1552 Abp. J. Hamilton Catech. i. ix. f. 24v For na vther cause..bot yat thai wald nocht knaw the tyme of thair visitatioun.
1560 Bible (Geneva) Isa. x. 3 What wil ye do now in the daie of visitation, & of destruction.
1645 J. Caryl Expos. Job (1676) I. 636 Jerusalem is threatned to be searcht with candles, and that was the time of Jerusalems visitation.
1801 R. Southey Thalaba I. i. 31 In the day of visitation, In the fearful hour of judgement, God will remember thee!
c. So as to afflict with sickness or other trouble, esp. by way of punishment for wrongdoing.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > [noun] > divine
visitationc1380
plaguea1382
flaw1481
the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > cause of > action of causing
afflictionc1330
visitationc1380
grievinga1398
inflictiona1535
straiting1591
straitening1598
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > [noun] > attack by some hostile or injurious agency > specifically by a supernatural being
visitationc1380
visitinga1382
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 207 And in alle þingis bewar of grucchyng aȝens God and his visitacion, in gret labour and long, and gret sikenesse, and oþer adversities.
1421 T. Hoccleve Complaint 382 My sycknesse, which came of god[de]s visytacion.
1439 Rolls of Parl. V. 33/1 That notorie sekenesse or impediment by Gods visitation.
1455 Rolls of Parl. V. 313/2 John Banham Squier,..which is blynde by Goddes visitation.
1485 Coventry Leet Bk. 524 And any Casualtes of disease by Godes visitacion com vnto the Recourder.
a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Fiiiv Pray to god your sorowes to asswage It is foly to grudge agaynst his vysytacyon.
1603 (title) Certaine Prayers..most necessary to be vsed at this time in the present Visitation of Gods heauy hand for our manifold sinnes.
1635 Life & Pranks of Long Meg of Westminster (Hindley II) 45 'Tis the visitation of the Lord for the great sins you have committed.
1645 J. Caryl Expos. Job (1676) I. 636 If God in affliction visit us,..let us answer his visitation of us with our visitation of him.
1820 John Bull 31 Dec. 24/2 A verdict of ‘died by the visitation of God’ was recorded.
1898 J. Arch Story of Life xiii. 312 A visitation of the Almighty..upon a luxurious and dissipated aristocracy.
d. A similar action on the part of an evil power or disembodied spirit.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > evil spirit or demon > [noun] > visitation by
visitation1843
1843 C. Dickens Christmas Carol ii. 41 The Ghost had warned him of a visitation when the bell tolled one.
1861 ‘G. Eliot’ Silas Marner i. 15 He observed that, to him, this trance looked more like a visitation of Satan than a proof of divine favour.
7. A heavy affliction, blow, or trial, regarded as an instance of divine dispensation; retributive punishment operating by this means.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > activities of God > [noun] > trial or punishment by
judgementa1325
visitationc1475
general judgement1479
chastening1526
punishment1535
c1475 Mankind (1969) 736 Yt were to me solace, þe cruell vysytacyon of deth.
1567 Triall of Treasure sig. E Enter Gods visitation. I am Gods minister called Visitation... Sometime I bring sicknes, sometime perturbation.
c1592 Faire Em sig. F2v Put case I had beene blinde and could not see, As often times such visitations falles That pleaseth God.
1639 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 172 My late wives kinsman..at the late heavy visitacion did take great paines about me in the time of my trouble.
1642 Earl of Eglinton Let. in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. i. 52 I am sorrowfull from my heart for your lordships great losse and heavie visitatioun.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Visitation ,..the great Sickness with which the People of this Kingdom were sorely afflicted during..1665 and 1666.
1798 S. Lee Young Lady's Tale in H. Lee Canterbury Tales II. 544 [I] now can account for the severe visitation on me, and mine.
1806 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 15 287 You boast an intimate knowledge of the decrees of Heaven, and shew what is ordained for the visitation of man.
1865 J. R. Seeley Ecce Homo (1866) vi. 55 Jehovah was considered..as punishing by providential visitations and by mysterious pains inflicted on the dead.
1885 Dunckley in Manch. Weekly Times 21 Feb. 5/5 War is here regarded..as a punitive visitation, as a form of retribution for our sins.
8. The fact of some violent or destructive agency or force coming or falling upon a people, country, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > [noun] > attack by some hostile or injurious agency
onfalleOE
oncomea1225
sailing13..
visitinga1382
siegec1385
assault1508
visitation1535
assaulting1548
onset1566
assailment1592
blow1594
insult1603
attempt1662
attack1665
offencea1677
seizure1881
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Prov. xix. D The feare of the Lorde preserueth the life, yee it geueth plenteousnes, without the visitacion of any plage.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 (2nd issue) iii. i. 21 In the visitation of the winds, Who take the ruffian pillowes by the top. View more context for this quotation
1757 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 4 Nov. (1932) (modernized text) V. 2257 The Austrians always leave behind them pretty lasting monuments of their visits, or rather visitations.
1833 C. Lyell Princ. Geol. (1835) III. iii. viii. 116 In Arabia and India, and other countries, their [sc. locusts] visitations have been periodically experienced.
1838 T. Arnold Hist. Rome I. 187 The period..was marked by the visitations of pestilence, as well as those of war.
1844 A. W. Kinglake Eothen xv. 205 Thanks to Ibrahim Pasha's terrible visitation, the men of the tribe were wholly unarmed.
9. The fact of some immaterial power or influence acting or operating on the mind.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > inspiration > [noun] > imparting of
inspiringa1340
animation1612
inspirement1616
spiriting1661
visitation1791
1791 E. Inchbald Simple Story I. Pref. p. iii In justice to their heavenly inspirations, I believe they have never yet favoured me with one visitation.
1819 P. B. Shelley Ye Gentle Visitations 1 Ye gentle visitations of calm thought.
1841 R. W. Emerson Love in Ess. 1st Ser. (London ed.) 175 But be our experience..what it may, no man ever forgot the visitations of that power to his heart and brain.
1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt I. xiv. 290 His voice was what his uncle's might have been if it had been modulated by delicate health and a visitation of self-doubt.
1873 W. Black Princess of Thule xvi. 257 Or was he moved by some visitation of compunction?
Compounds
General attributive (chiefly in special senses).
visitation acquaintance n.
ΚΠ
1822 J. Galt Sir Andrew Wylie III. xx. 165 Mary would fain hae had me to cultivate a visitation-acquaintance with him.
visitation book n.
ΚΠ
1768 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. III. 105 Their original visitation~books, compiled when progresses were solemnly and regularly made into every part of the kingdom, to enquire into the state of families,..are allowed to be good evidence of pedigrees.
1870 F. R. Wilson Archit. Surv. Churches Lindisfarne 80 The visitation books show us the old edifice once more.
visitation court n.
ΚΠ
1841 (title) Report of the Visitation Court of the Archbishop of York.
visitation day n.
ΚΠ
1708 J. Chamberlayne Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (1710) 292 This day still continues to be the Visitation-day, when the Curators..do inspect the Library and call over all the Books.
1900 Daily News 27 June 6/5 Chocolate is the time-honoured beverage on visitation day at Greenwich Observatory.
visitation dinner n.
ΚΠ
1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xi. 84 There was not..a ball, nor an election, nor a visitation dinner..but he found means to attend it.
1850 J. H. Newman Lect. Diffic. Anglicans (1891) I. i. ii. 61 Was it a subject..discussed and denounced..in episcopal charges and at visitation dinners?
visitation fee n.
ΚΠ
1791 J. Woodforde Diary 6 Dec. (1927) III. 316 Recd. of Ditto, my last Visitation Fee, 0.2.6.
1880 Wyclif's Wks. 249 (margin) Visitation fees.
visitation nun n.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > monasticism > religious order > other religions > Order of Visitation > [noun] > member of
blue nuna1700
Visitandine1747
visitation nun1899
a1700 in Harleian Misc. (1744) I. 425/2 A Monastery of Visitation-Nuns, otherwise Blue Nuns.
1899 Dublin Rev. Oct. 273 Three visitation nuns from the monastery of Chaillot, near Paris.
visitation office n.
ΚΠ
1795 W. Paley Clergyman's Compan. v Prayers for a sick Child. (Visitation office.)
visitation sermon n.
ΚΠ
1676 J. Glanvill Ess. Pref. sig. a3 The Fifth [Essay] of the Agreement of Reason and Religion, was at first a Visitation Sermon.
1782 C. Simeon in W. Carus Life (1847) 28 There is a Visitation Sermon preached every month at my own parish~church at Reading.
visitation work n.
ΚΠ
1747 Bp. Sherlock Let. 27 Aug. in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. i. 297 As the visitation work is divided between me and the Bp. of L. we have got thro' it with great ease.
Derivatives
visiˈtational adj. of or pertaining to a visitation.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > [adjective] > visit by
visitational1791
visitorial1813
society > leisure > social event > visit > [adjective] > visit by clergyman
visitational1791
1791 Gentleman's Mag. Jan. 20/2 Without impairing the utility or expediency of visitational charges.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > inspection, survey > [noun] > formal or official > as visit > person conducting
searchera1450
visitor1555
visitationer1670
1670 J. Eachard Grounds Contempt of Clergy 91 A Money-renouncing Clergy, that can abstain from seeing a penny a month together, unless it be when the Collectors, and Visitationers come.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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