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.
a visit for the purpose of making an official examination or inspection, as of a bishop to a diocese.
(usually initial capital letter) the visit of the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. Luke 1:36–56.
(initial capital letter) a church festival, held on July 2, in commemoration of this visit.
the administration of comfort or aid, or of affliction or punishment: a visitation of the plague.
an affliction or punishment, as from God.
the appearance or coming of a supernatural influence or spirit.
Origin of visitation
1275–1325; <Latin vīsitātiōn- (stem of vīsitātiō), equivalent to vīsitāt(us) (past participle of vīsitāre;see visit, -ate1) + -iōn--ion; replacing Middle English visitacioun<Anglo-French <Latin, as above
It requires a torpid temperament to remain calm under this visitation.
Life and Work in Benares and Kumaon, 1839-1877|James Kennedy
Three nights a week were devoted by the mission to visitation work.
The Man Who Knew|Edgar Wallace
By the way, he may now expect a visitation of the Criminal Anarchy law.
Selected Works of Voltairine de Cleyre|Voltairine de Cleyre
If they doo, they are not onely disobedient, but are seuerely punished at the time of their visitation.
The History of the Great and Mighty Kingdom of China and the Situation Thereof, Volume I (of 2)|Juan Gonzalez de Mendoza
A strong, inspiring personality is not a gift of the gods, nor is a weak and ineffective personality a visitation of Providence.
How to Teach Religion|George Herbert Betts
British Dictionary definitions for visitation (1 of 2)
visitation
/ (ˌvɪzɪˈteɪʃən) /
noun
an official call or visit for the purpose of inspecting or examining an institution, esp such a visit made by a bishop to his diocese
a visiting of punishment or reward from heaven
any disaster or catastrophea visitation of the plague
an appearance or arrival of a supernatural being
any call or visit
informalan unduly prolonged social call
Derived forms of visitation
visitational, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for visitation (2 of 2)
Visitation
/ (ˌvɪzɪˈteɪʃən) /
noun
the visit made by the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:39–56)
the Church festival commemorating this, held on July 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