sb. Forms: 4–5 vacacioun, 5 vacacyone, -cione, -cyoun, wacacion(e, 5–6 vacacion (6 -cyon), 6 vacatione, 5– vacation. [a. OF. (also mod.F.) vacation (= It. vacazione, Sp. vacacion, Pg. vacação), or ad. L. vacātiōn-, vacātio (med.L. also vacācio), f. vacāre: see VACATE v.]
I. 1. Freedom, release, or rest from some occupation, business, or activity.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Wife’s Prol., 684. Whan he hadde leyser and vacacioun From other worldly occupacioun.
1531. Elyot, Gov., I. ii. What vacacion had they from the warres?
1575. Laneham, Lett. (1871), 12. The forenoon occupied … in quiet and vacation from woork.
1621. Brathwait, Nat. Embassie (1877), 156. Admit of no vacation, saue onely vacation from vice.
1690. R. Lucas, Humane Life, 245. The life of the sluggish is but a waking dream, a vacation from all business.
1865. W. G. Palgrave, Arabia, II. 165. Especially during the days of vacation from ordinary business.
b. Without const. Freedom or respite from work, etc.; time of rest or leisure.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., V. iv. 777. Bot þai war til Sancte Petyr ay Helparis in his lattyr day, Qwhen he gaf his vacacion Al hail til his deuocion.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. John viii. 58. A secrete place, or some vacacion is conuenient for preachers of the gospell.
1570. T. Norton, Nowell’s Catech. (1853), 129. When, resting from worldly business…, and as it were having a certain holy vacation.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, XII. xvii. (1620), 435. His vacation is not idle, sloathfull nor sluggish.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., I. iv. 20. The Primitive Confessours were so taken up with what they endured, they had no vacation largely to relate their own or others Sufferings.
transf. 1639. Fuller, Holy War, II. xii. (1840), 66. After the tempest of a long war,… king Baldwin had a five years vacation of peace in his old age.
† c. Leisure for, or devoted to, some special purpose; hence, occupation, business. Obs.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, II. lviii. 135. Put þe vacacion of god [L. Dei vacationem] before all oþer þinges.
1549. Compl. Scot., vi. 45. Ther prencipal vacatione vas on the neuresing of bestialite. Ibid. Ther is na faculte, stait, nor vacatione … that can be conparit til oure stait.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, II. xii. 308. She [Philosophy] ascribeth no other consultation [to the Gods], nor imputeth other vacation vnto them.
1627. W. Sclater, Exp. 2 Thess. (1629), 2. Charity, which is the vtmost pretended aime of single life, and wilfull pouertie, whole Vacation to the Contemplation of the glorious Deitie.
1654. Hammond, Fundam., xi. Wks. 1674, I. 298. The inestimable benefit of peace, and quiet and vacation for piety.
† d. Absence from duty or from some usual post; also, a sum paid for absence or exemption.
1461–83. in Househ. Ord. (ed. 4), 32. Savynge the right of the countynghouse in chekking them for theire vacations or for lak of recordes.
1472–3. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 57/1. Sommes of money … abated of the fees … of any of the said Souldeours … for the vacations and absence oute of the said Toune.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, Q ij b. Parmenio his tongue was very fine and voluble to run ouer his masters whole life this time of vacation from his mistris.
1591. Savile, Tacitus, Hist., I. lviii. 33. Vitellius … paies the vacations to the Centurions out of his cofers.
2. A period during which there is a formal suspension of activity; one or other part of the year during which law-courts, universities, or schools are suspended or closed; holidays.
c. 1456. Pecock, Bk. of Faith (1909), 228. Hou myche labour is maad in ynnes of Court in Londoun, bi tymes of vacacioun, aboute the reding … of the Kingis Statutis.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., xv. (1885), 148. How mony owres off the day this counsell shall sytt, when thai shall haue any vacasion.
1529. Sel. Cases Star Chamber (Selden), II. 36. We dyd apoynte them there to mete ageyne at the vacacion of Christmas last past.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., III. ii. 349. [Time stays] With Lawiers in the vacation: for they sleepe betweene Terme and Terme.
1617. Moryson, Itin., III. 10. I judge Lawyers and Officers more happy, who have their Termes to live in the City, and their Vacations to returne into the Countrey.
a. 1668. Davenant, Play-ho. to be Let, I. i. We are standing Properties of the Play-house, which, in Vacation, lye in pawn for the Rent.
1722. De Foe, Plague (Rtldg.), 29. It being in the Time of the Vacation.
1771. Phil. Trans., LXI. 324. The young nobleman,… whom I accompanied to his seat from the university, during the Christmas-vacation.
1796. Burke, Lett. Noble Lord, Wks. VIII. 35. Every honest father of a family … will pray that there may be a very long vacation in all such schools.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), V. 216. For no other reason, perhaps, but because the fine was levied in the vacation, and was dated as of the preceding term.
1829. Lytton, Disowned, vi. To this house Algernon was constantly consigned during his vacations from school.
1904. Mrs. Creighton, Life Bp. Creighton, I. x. 308. In the Easter Vacation we went for a short walking tour in Norfolk.
transf. 1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., IV. i. 242. Wherefore in the midst of the Term of his businesse he makes himself a vacation to speak with them.
c. 1656. Ussher, Ann. (1658), 814. The King of Kings forbore his hunting and feasting of the Nobles, which is a Kinde of Vacation among the Parthians.
b. Long Vacation (see LONG a.1 18).
a. 1601. Sir T. Fanshawe, Pract. Exch. (1658), 160. In every long vacation all the bills … and other pleadings are to be taken from the common files.
1631. T. Adams, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 150. The arabick Lecture … to be entred upon after that long vacation following.
1693. [see LONG a. 18].
1706. Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), I. 215. In ye Long-Vacation [he] made an Excursion.
1825–. [see LONG a. 18].
1882. H. C. Merivale, Faucit of B., v. When season, reading-party, and long vacation were all over,… much distressed was the Oxford world [etc.].
c. A holiday. Chiefly U.S.
1878. Masque of Poets, 177. At Saratoga, where you meet all grades of well-dressed people spending short vacations.
1888. A. K. Green (Mrs. Rohlfs), Behind Closed Doors, vi. She went away for a short vacation a few days ago.
d. attrib., as vacation-exercise, -task, -time, etc.
1628. Milton (title), At a Vacation Exercise in the Colledge.
a. 1668. Davenant, Play-ho. to be Let, Wks. (1673), 75. Good, Sir, no French translation till the Tearm; It is too precious for Vacation-ware.
1721. Amherst, Terræ Fil., No. 47 (1726), 251. Every monday throughout the year, in vacation-time as well as in term-time.
1797. in Fowler, Hist. C. C. C. (O.H.S.), 298. This Vacation exercise, the subject of which will be communicated to him at the usual time.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, II. xiii. It is now vacation time, and I have come to town with the idea of holding lectures on the state of education.
1844. Talfourd (title), Vacation Rambles and Thoughts.
1894. Ld. Coleridge, in Life (1904), II. xii. 382. I am smitten once more with the fate of Vacation Judge.
1904. ‘M. Y. Halidom,’ Weird Transform., x. 84. What with his walks and his vacation tasks, small danger was apprehended.
3. † a. A state or period characterized by the intermission or absence of something. Obs.
1567. Allen, Def. Priesth., Pref. In this pitifull vacation and long lacke of the practise of priesthoode.
1630. Lennard, trans. Charron’s Wisd. (1658), 31. Whereby followeth a kind of intermission and vacation of the actions.
1677. Temple, Lett. to Hyde, Wks. 1720, II. 474. We have had since Monday last, a perfect Vacation of all Affairs.
a. 1711. Ken, Preparatives, Poet. Wks. 1721, IV. 115. Sleep’s a Vacation of our Pow’rs, And innocently wastes our Hours.
† b. A cessation from something.
1617. in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 184. This day is here Good Friday, and such a dead vacation from all kind of business, as I can now add little to this letter.
c. 1770. Eliz. Carter, Lett. (1808), 96. That dead vacation from all present hopes and fears that stupifies the retirement of a convent.
c. A state or period of inactivity.
1644. Bulwer, Chiron., 116. The inconvenience of this cold vacation in the Hand, gave being to that Axiome in Rhetorique [etc.].
1660. Boyle, New Exp. Phys. Mech., Pref. p. viii. The occasional vacations of the Press, by reason of Festivals, or the absence of the Corrector.
1862. Stanley, Jew. Ch. (1877), I. iv. 75. The city was in a state of comparative desolation;… a vacation of centuries had passed over it.
4. A time of freedom, release, or respite (from something).
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, III. xii. 125. The Mantinæans, finding the war to be carried from their wals,… would use the commodity of that vacation.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, I. vi. The longest vacation from persecution they enjoyed was when Charles was Emperor of the West.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, I. iv. 189. Giving himself a vacation from the hardships of War.
1714. R. Fiddes, Pract. Disc., II. 100. Such times should be vacations from the common business and affairs of human life.
1748. trans. Vegetius Renatus, 244. Let … a Vacation from Labour be given him.
II. † 5. The fact of an office or post becoming or being vacant; the time during which the vacancy lasts. Obs.
Chiefly in ecclesiastical use: see (a).
(a) c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. xxxiii. 5897. In til a wacacione Þai walde noucht mak electione Twys.
1454. Rolls of Parlt., V. 247/1. Of all … voidaunce of Bisshopriches, Abbeys and Prioryes, tyme of vacation [etc.].
1533–4. Act 25. Hen. VIII., c. 21 § 16. All … licences … shall (during the vacation of the same see) be … graunted vnder the name and seale of the gardiane of the spiritualities.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 366 b. Bishopprickes aboute lxxxxvi, by the vacations whereof, as they terme it, is caried to Rome a wonderful some of gold.
1602. Segar, Hon. Mil. & Civ., IV. xxiv. 244. If it fall out that the Archbishop of Canterburie be not there, by the vacation of his See, then the Archbishop of Yorke is to take his place.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., IX. 71. Certain lands assumed by the Queen from some Bishopricks during their vacation.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. vi. 98. All arrearages of subsidies and tenths past in the days of their predecessors, and in times of vacation.
(b.) 1542. Hen. VIII., Decl. War Scots, D ij. All castels & holdes were surrendred to him as to the superior lord in the tyme of vacation.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 16. That he shall ratifie that which was done in the vacation of thempire, by the countie Palatine.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, II. xxii. 475. But we are now arrived at a meere vacation, wherein the Crown of Juda lay voyd eleven whole yeares.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., III. 89. This commonly they practise in euery such like vacation, which otherwise, they durst neuer attempt.
† b. A vacant post; a vacancy. Obs.
1535. Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), I. 398. I hertely desyre & pray you … to graunt vnto the said Robert the next vacacion of one of the iiii Clarkes of that your courte.
† 6. The fact of a house being unoccupied or untenanted; loss of rent due to this. Obs.
1479–81. Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905), 96. Vacacions. In primys, syr Rafis chambyr, voyde by ij quarters, the quarter at ij s iij d. Ibid., 192. Item, ffor the wacacion of the howse that Wylliam Raynsford dwellyd in, for iij quarters, xx s.
† 7. Empty space; vacuity. Obs.–1
1743. Lond. & Country Brew., III. (ed. 2), 211. I am of Opinion nothing less than four or five Feet high Vacation ought to be allowed … in order to break the Force of such an Ebullition, by thus giving it Room enough to expand.
III. † 8. The action of voiding or evacuating.
1607. Markham, Cavel., VII. (1617), 33. From fulnes, as from surfeit of meate or drink, or the want of vacation of humors.
9. The action of vacating, of leaving (or being left) vacant or unoccupied.
1876. Clark Russell, Is he the Man? II. 2. The servants were ignorant of the true reason of old Mrs. Ransome’s sudden vacation of the house.
1884. Manch. Exam., 29 May, 5/2. The Viceroyalty of India … will then be on the point of vacation by the Marquis of Ripon.
1892. Sat. Rev., 22 Oct., 465/1. Seats chosen for vacation by the Gladstonians themselves.
Hence Vacation v. intr., to take a vacation or holiday. Vacationer, (a) U.S., a holiday-maker; (b) a vacation-student. Vacationist, = prec. (a). Vacationless a., having no vacation or holidays.
1896. Advance (Chicago), 27 Aug., 273. Despite hard times, people will go *vacationing. Ibid. (1890), 28 Aug. The ‘swallows homeward fly’; and so, by sea and land, do *vacationers and tourists.
1877. Dunn County (WI) News, 15 Sept. 1/6. A ministerial vacationer has been playing croquet, and indites his experience as follows: [etc.].
1898. Atlantic Monthly, LXXXII. 491/1. It did my vacationer’s heart good to see men so cheerfully industrious.
1904. Middle Temple Rec., Min. Parlt., I. 389. The following vacationers are fined 20s. each for absence from Mr. Daston’s reading.
1859. Fayetteville Observer, 27 June, 2/2. Up and down and across the Campus I continued my solitary walk, occasionally looking up to the students’ rooms to see perchance the light of some *vacationist.
1885. Field, 18 April, 511. The vacationist in quest of bracing air … will find in Tyrol many places to suit him. Ibid. (1892), 2 July, 25/2. Rivers … attractive to the summer vacationist.
1891. Advance (Chicago), 25 June. I dislike to go away leaving people (vacationless who deserve an outing more than I do.
