visitation

[viz-i-tey-shuh n] /ˌvɪz ɪˈteɪ ʃən/
noun
1.
the act of visiting.
2.
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.
3.
a visit for the purpose of making an official examination or inspection, as of a bishop to a diocese.
4.
(usually initial capital letter) the visit of the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. Luke 1:36–56.
5.
(initial capital letter) a church festival, held on July 2, in commemoration of this visit.
6.
the administration of comfort or aid, or of affliction or punishment:
a visitation of the plague.
7.
an affliction or punishment, as from God.
8.
the appearance or coming of a supernatural influence or spirit.
Origin
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 forms
visitational, adjective
intervisitation, noun
revisitation, noun
Can be confused
visit, visitation.
Examples from the web for visitation
  • They will now have hospital visitation rights, access to health insurance, tax deductions and relief from estate taxes.
  • They see a drive-in movie screen in the distance, which the narrator mistakes for an angelic visitation.
  • Nothing quite so theatrical has been attempted during the latest medfly visitation, which began five months ago.
  • All family visitation requests have been denied, or simply ignored.
  • After this wordless visitation the hospital begins to seem a cache of the humanly beautiful.
  • visitation by family and friends is encouraged and can make a positive difference during an offender's time in prison.
  • Attorney, clergy and professional visits are allowed and are not counted against an inmate's regular visitation limits.
British Dictionary definitions for visitation

visitation

/ˌvɪzɪˈteɪʃən/
noun
1.
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
2.
a visiting of punishment or reward from heaven
3.
any disaster or catastrophe: a visitation of the plague
4.
an appearance or arrival of a supernatural being
5.
any call or visit
6.
(informal) an unduly prolonged social call
Derived Forms
visitational, adjective

Visitation

/ˌvɪzɪˈteɪʃən/
noun
1.
  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
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
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.