01 n. The act of visiting, or the state of being visited; access for inspection or examination.
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1.
The act of visiting, or the state of being visited; access for inspection or examination.“Nothing but peace and gentle visitation.” — Shak.
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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.
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3.
The object of a visit.[Obs.]
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4.
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.(Internat. Law) See: Search
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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.
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6.
A festival in honor of the visit of the Virgin Mary to Elisabeth, mother of John the Baptist, celebrated on the second of July.(Eccl.)
Phrases & compounds
The Order of the Visitation of Our Lady —
a religious community of nuns, founded at Annecy, in Savoy, in 1610, and in 1808 established in the United States. In America these nuns are devoted to the education of girls.