A visitation is an event in which God or another non-human being seems to appear to someone or contact them.
The young people have claimed almost daily visitations from the Virgin Mary. [+ from]
2. countable noun
People sometimes refer humorously to a visit from someone, especially from someone in authority, as a visitation.
They had another visitation from Essex police. [+ from]
3. uncountable noun
Visitation is the act of officially visiting someone.
[formal]
House-to-house visitation has been carried on, under the regulations of the GeneralBoard of Health.
I had visitation rights.
Synonyms: inspection, survey, examination, visit More Synonyms of visitation
More Synonyms of visitation
visitation in British English
(ˌvɪzɪˈteɪʃən)
noun
1.
an official call or visit for the purpose of inspecting or examining an institution, esp such a visit made by a bishop to his or her diocese
2.
a visiting of punishment or reward from heaven
3.
any disaster or catastrophe
a visitation of the plague
4.
an appearance or arrival of a supernatural being
5.
any call or visit
6. informal
an unduly prolonged social call
Derived forms
visitational (ˌvisitˈational)
adjective
Visitation in British English
(ˌvɪzɪˈteɪʃən)
noun
1.
a.
the visit made by the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:39–56)
b.
the Church festival commemorating this, held on July 2
2.
a religious order of nuns, the Order of the Visitation, founded in 1610 by St Francis of Sales and dedicated to contemplation and the cultivation of humility, gentleness, and sisterly love
visitation in American English
(ˌvɪzɪˈteiʃən)
noun
1.
the act of visiting
2.
a formal visit, as one permitted by a court's granting of visitation rights or by parents invited to a school to observe the work of students
3.
a visit for the purpose of making an official examination or inspection, as of a bishop to a diocese
4. (usually cap)
the visit of the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. Luke 1:36–56
5. (cap)
a church festival, held on July 2, in commemoration of this visit
6.
the administration of comfort or aid, or of affliction or punishment
a visitation of the plague
7.
an affliction or punishment, as from God
8.
the appearance or coming of a supernatural influence or spirit
Derived forms
visitational
adjective
Word origin
[1275–1325; ‹ L vīsitātiōn- (s. of vīsitātiō), equiv. to vīsitāt(us) (ptp. of vīsitāre; see visit, -ate1) + -iōn--ion; r. ME visitacioun ‹ AF ‹ L, as above]
Examples of 'visitation' in a sentence
visitation
`Nigel's just outlined one of them: the worse the mess, the less appropriate a visitation becomes.
Howatch, Susan ABSOLUTE TRUTHS (2002)
A year later, Master Straunge lost both his parents during a visitation of the sweating sickness.
Grace, C.L A SHRINE OF MURDERS (2002)
1 (noun)
Definition
an appearance of a supernatural being
He claims to have had a visitation from the Virgin Mary.
Synonyms
apparition
vision
She heard voices and saw visions of her ancestors.
manifestation
the manifestation of grief
appearance
the appearance of a number of cases of cholera
materialization
2 (noun)
Definition
an official visit or inspection
the bishop's annual visitation of the diocese
Synonyms
inspection
A routine inspection of the vessel turned up 50 kg of the drug.
survey
She gave the newspaper a quick survey.
examination
They have taken the documents away for examination.
visit
review
a review on the training and education of over-16s
scrutiny
His private life came under media scrutiny.
3 (noun)
Definition
a punishment or reward from heaven
Synonyms
catastrophe
The world is heading towards an environmental catastrophe.
trial
disaster
the second air disaster in less than two months
punishment
ordeal
blight
urban blight and unacceptable poverty
calamity
This course of action could only end in calamity.
scourge
Vandalism is a scourge that is ruining our beautiful town.
bane
Spots can be the bane of a teenager.
cataclysm
the cataclysm that was overwhelming Europe before the Second World War
infliction
Additional synonyms
in the sense of appearance
the appearance of a number of cases of cholera
Synonyms
occurrence,
development,
emergence,
manifestation
in the sense of bane
Definition
a person or thing that causes misery or distress
Spots can be the bane of a teenager.
Synonyms
plague (informal),
bête noire,
trial,
disaster,
evil,
ruin,
burden,
destruction,
despair,
misery,
curse,
pest,
torment,
woe,
nuisance,
downfall,
calamity,
scourge,
affliction
in the sense of blight
Definition
a person or thing that spoils or prevents growth
urban blight and unacceptable poverty
Synonyms
curse,
suffering,
evil,
depression,
corruption,
distress,
pollution,
misery,
plague (informal),
hardship,
woe,
misfortune,
contamination,
adversity,
scourge,
affliction,
bane,
wretchedness
Nearby words of
visitation
visionary
visit
visit something on or upon someone
visitation
visitor
vista
visual
Synonyms of 'visitation'
visitation
Explore 'visitation' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of calamity
Definition
a disaster or misfortune
This course of action could only end in calamity.
Synonyms
disaster,
tragedy,
ruin,
distress,
reversal of fortune,
hardship,
catastrophe,
woe,
misfortune,
downfall,
adversity,
scourge,
mishap,
affliction,
trial,
tribulation,
misadventure,
cataclysm,
wretchedness,
mischance
in the sense of cataclysm
Definition
a disaster such as an earthquake or a flood
the cataclysm that was overwhelming Europe before the Second World War
Synonyms
disaster,
collapse,
catastrophe,
upheaval,
debacle,
devastation,
calamity
in the sense of disaster
Definition
an accident that causes great distress or destruction
the second air disaster in less than two months
Synonyms
catastrophe,
trouble,
blow,
accident,
stroke,
reverse,
tragedy,
ruin,
misfortune,
adversity,
calamity,
mishap,
whammy (informal),
misadventure,
car crash (informal),
train wreck (informal),
cataclysm,
act of God,
bummer (slang),
ruination,
mischance
in the sense of examination
Definition
the act of examining
They have taken the documents away for examination.
Synonyms
inspection,
testing,
study,
research,
trial,
checking,
review,
survey,
investigation,
analysis,
consideration,
observation,
going-over (informal),
vetting,
scrutiny,
appraisal,
interrogation,
assay,
perusal,
recce (slang)
in the sense of manifestation
the manifestation of grief
Synonyms
display,
show,
exhibition,
expression,
demonstration,
appearance,
exposure,
revelation,
disclosure,
materialization
in the sense of review
Definition
a general survey or report
a review on the training and education of over-16s
Synonyms
survey,
report,
study,
analysis,
examination,
scrutiny,
perusal
in the sense of scourge
Definition
a person who or thing that causes affliction or suffering
Vandalism is a scourge that is ruining our beautiful town.
Synonyms
affliction,
plague (informal),
curse,
terror,
pest,
torment,
misfortune,
visitation,
bane,
infliction
in the sense of scrutiny
Definition
very careful study or observation
His private life came under media scrutiny.
Synonyms
examination,
study,
investigation,
search,
inquiry,
analysis,
inspection,
exploration,
sifting,
once-over (informal),
perusal,
close study
in the sense of survey
She gave the newspaper a quick survey.
Synonyms
examination,
inspection,
scrutiny,
overview,
once-over (informal),
perusal
in the sense of vision
Definition
a hallucination caused by divine inspiration, madness, or drugs
She heard voices and saw visions of her ancestors.