visitation Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event
    trial; tribulation.
    • his mother-in-law's visits were a great trial for him
    • life is full of tribulations
    • a visitation of the plague
  2. noun any disaster or catastrophe
    • a visitation of the plague
  3. noun an official visit for inspection or supervision
    • the commissioner made visitations to all the precinct stations
    • the recent visitation of the bishop to his diocese

WordNet

Vis`it*a"tion noun
Etymology
L. visitatio: cf. F. visitation.
Definitions
  1. The act of visiting, or the state of being visited; access for inspection or examination.
    Nothing but peace and gentle visitation. Shak.
  2. Specifically: The act of a superior or superintending officer who, in the discharge of his office, visits a corporation, college, etc., to examine into the manner in which it is conducted, and see that its laws and regulations are duly observed and executed; as, the visitation of a diocese by a bishop.
  3. The object of a visit. Obs. "O flowers, . . . my early visitation and my last." Milton.
  4. (Internat. Law) The act of a naval commander who visits, or enters on board, a vessel belonging to another nation, for the purpose of ascertaining her character and object, but without claiming or exercising a right of searching the vessel. It is, however, usually coupled with the right of search (see under Search), visitation being used for the purpose of search.
  5. Special dispensation; communication of divine favor and goodness, or, more usually, of divine wrath and vengeance; retributive calamity; retribution; judgment.
    What will ye do in the day of visitation? Isa. x. 3.
  6. (Eccl.) A festival in honor of the visit of the Virgin Mary to Elisabeth, mother of John the Baptist, celebrated on the second of July.

Webster 1913