visitation

Definitions

1. 1noun

   The act of visiting, or the state of being visited; access for inspection or examination.

2. 2noun

   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. 3noun

   The object of a visit.

4. 4noun

   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. 5noun

   Special dispensation; communication of divine favor and goodness, or, more usually, of divine wrath and vengeance; retributive calamity; retribution; judgment.

6. 6noun

   A festival in honor of the visit of the Virgin Mary to Elisabeth, mother of John the Baptist, celebrated on the second of July.

7. 7noun

   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"

8. 8noun

   any disaster or catastrophe

   "a visitation of the plague"

9. 9noun

   an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event

   "his mother-in-law's visits were a great trial for him"

   "life is full of tribulations"

   Synonyms

   trialtribulation