visitation

[viz-i-tey-shuh n]

See more synonyms for visitation on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of visiting.
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

Related formsvis·it·a·tion·al, adjectivein·ter·vis·it·a·tion, nounre·vis·it·a·tion, noun

Can be confusedvisit visitation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for visitation

call, visiting, retribution, distress, disaster, ordeal, calamity, pain, trouble, punishment, adversity, catastrophe

Examples from the Web for visitation

Contemporary Examples of visitation

Those who do wish to attend, however, must be pre-approved for visitation ahead of the wedding day.
Saying Yes to the Dress—Behind Bars
Caitlin Dickson
December 8, 2014
The source of dispute: the visitation arrangements for their dog.
Divorce Is Going to the Dogs, Literally
Keli Goff
June 20, 2014
In the same scene, he refuses to sign papers that would allow him visitation rights.
Nine Craziest Moments From ‘Jobs’
Anna Klassen
August 16, 2013
He does not have custody of his child, nor did the Japanese courts grant him visitation rights.
Japan’s Child Kidnapping Problem
Nathalie-Kyoko Stucky, Jake Adelstein
May 19, 2013
The extent of visitation and other means of contact between the child and their parents are also made by the court.
Japan’s Child Kidnapping Problem
Nathalie-Kyoko Stucky, Jake Adelstein
May 19, 2013

Historical Examples of visitation

It seems just like a visitation of divine wrath the way things happen.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
I hope that this visitation has come just in time to save us.
Mountain Meditations
L. Lind-af-Hageby
He could not any longer put away the solemn duty of visitation.
The Shadow of a Crime
Hall Caine
Remember this in the days of visitation, and follow Christ, no matter where He leads.
The Prodigal Returns
Lilian Staveley
These are surely the days of visitation for the pride of Edom.
Journal of a Residence at Bagdad
Anthony Groves

British Dictionary definitions for visitation

visitation

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
informal an unduly prolonged social call

Derived Formsvisitational, adjective

Visitation

noun

1. the visit made by the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:39–56)
2. 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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for visitation

c.1300, "a visit by an ecclesiastical representative to examine the condition of a parish, abbey, etc.," from Latin visitationem (nominative visitatio), noun of action from past participle stem of visitare (see visit). The supernatural sense of "a sight, appearance" is attested from mid-14c.