visitation
[viz-i-tey-shuh n]
- 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.
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Origin of visitation
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
callvisitingretributiondistressdisasterordealcalamitypaintroublepunishmentadversitycatastropheExamples from the Web for visitation
Contemporary Examples
Those who do wish to attend, however, must be pre-approved for visitation ahead of the wedding day.
The source of dispute: the visitation arrangements for their dog.
In the same scene, he refuses to sign papers that would allow him visitation rights.
He does not have custody of his child, nor did the Japanese courts grant him visitation rights.
The extent of visitation and other means of contact between the child and their parents are also made by the court.
Historical Examples
It seems just like a visitation of divine wrath the way things happen.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
I hope that this visitation has come just in time to save us.
Mountain MeditationsL. Lind-af-Hageby
He could not any longer put away the solemn duty of visitation.
The Shadow of a CrimeHall Caine
Remember this in the days of visitation, and follow Christ, no matter where He leads.
The Prodigal ReturnsLilian Staveley
These are surely the days of visitation for the pride of Edom.
Journal of a Residence at BagdadAnthony Groves
visitation
- 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
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Visitation
- 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
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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
n.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper