Forms: 3 uisiti, 3–4 visiten, 4–6 visyte, 4–7 visite (4 uisite, visitte, 5 vissite), 5– visit (4 wisit, 6 vizit, visyt), 5–7 visitt (5 visytt), 6–7 vissit; 4 vysyty, 4–6 vysyte (5 uysyte, vycyte), vysite (4 uys-), 4 vysitte, 5 vysid, 5–6 vysit, vysyt; 4–6 visete, 4–6 viset (5 viss-, 6 visett), vyset (5 -ed, -ett, 6 -ette); 4–5 vesete (5 -ette, Sc. -eit), 5 vecyte, vesyte, -ite; Sc. 5 wesit, 6 vesit. Also pa. t. (north. and Sc.) 4–5 wisit, 5 vyset, vised; pa. pple. 4–5 visit, -yt, 5 -ide, 6 -itt. [ad. OF. visiter (also mod.F., = Sp. and Pg. visitar, It. visitare) or L. vīsitāre to go to see, to inspect, etc., frequentative of vīsāre, f. vīs-, ppl. stem of vidēre to see. In early use largely due to the frequent use of visitare in passages of the Vulgate, from which senses 1–7 are directly derived.]
I. 1. trans. Of the Deity: To come to (persons) in order to comfort or benefit.
Sometimes passing into senses 7 or 8. In Alexander, 1964 used of pagan deities.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 154. Me ivint þet heo fluwen monne sturbinge, & wenden bi ham one: & tet God visitede ham & ʓef ham hore bonen.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5789. Sai þam i sal þam son visete,… I sal þam bring vte of thain-hede.
a. 1325. Prose Psalter, cv. (cvi.) 4. Þenche, Lord, on vs in þe welelikand of þy folk, and visit vs in þyne helþe.
1340. Ayenb., 128. Þet is þet uerste guod þet þe holy gost deþ to þe seneȝere, huanne he him uisiteþ.
1382. Wyclif, Jer. xv. 15. Lord, recorde thou of me, and visite me, and delyuere me fro them that pursuen me.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 914. God, as him list, visitith folk, & smyt.
c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 269. Almighti God hase forsaken me, becauce He vissettis not me as He was wunt.
1535. Coverdale, Ruth i. 6. She had herde … yt the Lorde had visited his people & geuen them bred.
1553. Primer, in Lit. & Doc. Edw. VI. (1844), 399. Visit him, O Lord, as thou didst visit Peter’s wife’s mother, and the captain’s servant.
1645. Caryl, Expos. Job, I. 636. When God comes in kindness and love to do us good, he visiteth us.
1676. Hale, Contempl., I. 526. But art thou come, dear Saviour? hath thy Love Thus made the stoop … and thus thy self to dress In dust to visit Mortals?
1727. De Foe, Hist. Appar., i. (1840), 9. Thus Adam was frequently visited in Eden.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 743. For He … Shall visit earth in Mercy.
transf. 1830. Tennyson, Ode to Memory, 4. Oh, haste, Visit my low desire! Strengthen me, enlighten me!
b. spec. (See quots.)
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxi. 1. God forsothe visitide Sara,… and fulfillide that that he spak. And she conseyuede. [Similarly in later versions.]
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 190. The hihe makere of nature Hire hath visited in a throwe, That it was openliche knowe Sche was with childe be the king.
c. To come to (persons) in order to judge of their state or condition. (Cf. sense 9.)
1382. Wyclif, Exod. iii. 16. Visytynge Y haue visitid ȝow, and Y haue seen alle thingis that haue fallun to ȝow in Egipte.
1645. Caryl, Expos. Job, I. 637. In this sense, Job saith, that God visits man every morning, as a shepherd his flock, lest any should be hurt or straid.
† 2. To come to (persons) in order to observe or examine conduct or disposition; to make trial of; to subject to test or scrutiny. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3195 (Cott.). Godd has þe [Abraham] visited here to-dai, þi dede in minnyng sal last ai.
a. 1325. Prose Psalter, xvi. 4 (xvii. 3). Þou prouedest myn hert, and uisited it on niȝt. Ibid., lviii. 6 (lix. 5). Ȝif entent to uisiten al folkes; ne haue þou nouȝt mercy on alle þat wirchen wickednes.
1382. Wyclif, Job vii. 18. Thou visitist hym the morntid, and feerli [1388 sudeynli] thou prouest hym.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, II. ix. 51. Wherfore saiþ Iob: ‘Thou visitist him by tyme,… & sodenly þou preuest him.’
1535. Coverdale, Job xxxi. 14. But seynge that God wil sytt in judgment, what shal I do? And for so moch as he wil nedes vyset me, what answere shal I geue him?
1645. Caryl, Expos. Job, I. 637. The eye of God is alway upon us:… he visiteth us so, that we can turn no way but he is with us.
1667. Milton, P. L., XII. 48. But God who oft descends to visit men Unseen, and through thir habitations walks To mark thir doings.
absol. 1611. Bible, Job xxxi. 14. What then shall I do, when God riseth vp? and when hee visiteth, what shall I answere him?
3. To inflict hurt, harm or punishment upon (a person); to deal severely or hardly with (persons or things); † to cut off, cause to die.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. xxvi. 14. Therfore thou hast visityd, and to-brosedest hem, and lost al the mynde of hem.
1485. Cov. Leet Bk., 528. If your wisdomes … woll please … to chese me … Recorder of your Citie, if God visite your Recorder that nowe is.
1535. Coverdale, Amos iii. 2. Therfore will I vyset you in all youre wickednesses.
1541. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), VI. 152. Beinge visitt with the hande of God.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 312. Let vs alwayes looke to the first cause of our affliction, and to God who visiteth vs iustly.
1611. Bible, Amos iii. 14. I will also visite the altars of Bethel, and the hornes of the altar shall be cut off.
1645. Caryl, Expos. Job, I. 636. When God visits our bodies, our estates, our families, or the kingdom where we live.
a. 1770. Jortin, Serm. (1771), I. iii. 52. We haue mentioned several reasons why God doth not immediately visit the disobedient.
1781. Cowper, Expost., 248. If vice receiv’d her retribution due When we were visited, what hope for you?
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xlviii. V. 67. Her life was spared by the clemency of the emperor, but he visited the pomp and treasures of her palace.
b. To afflict or distress with sickness, poverty or the like.
1424. Hen. VI., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. I. 100. Oure bel Uncle of Excestre, whom oure Lord now late visitid with seknesse.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 127. Som withe povert hym list to visite.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 134 b. Euery chylde that he receyueth, he chastiseth & visiteth with payne & tribulacyon.
1581. Pettie, Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), 2. God … hauing visited mee with a long, and perchaunce a curelesse disease.
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. vii. 19 b. Before his departure … he ment to visit the town of Mousambick, and the dwellers therein, with some sufficient reuenge.
1624. J. Usher, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 131. It pleased God to visite me with a quartan.
1748. Smollett, R. Random, xxvii. His indignation ought to be directed to Cot Almighty, who visited his people with distempers.
1862. A. K. H. Boyd, Graver Thoughts Country Parson, iii. 52. Holy Scripture sets before us two men, who were favoured with very near revelations of God: and each of whom was visited with a thorn in the flesh to keep him down and to keep him in mind.
c. To deprive of something. rare–1.
c. 1585. Faire Em, III. iv. Good father, giue me leaue to sit where I may not be disturbed, sith God hath visited me both of my sight and hearing.
4. Of sickness, etc.: To come upon (a person or persons), to assail or afflict. Freq. in passive and const. with or by.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 1980. Als we suld ilk day þe ded fele, And byde noght til þe dede us vyset.
1382. Wyclif, Numb. xvi. 29. If [there] … visyte them a veniaunce, with the which and other ben woned to be visytid, the Lorde hath not sente me.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 95. The kyng his father, so visited with sickenesse was not personable.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 156. He was hestelie vissitit with the heot feweris.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., IV. i. 26. I would the state of time had first beene whole, Ere he by sicknesse had beene visited.
1645. Caryl, Expos. Job, I. 636. When a house hath the Plague,… we use to say, Such a house is visited.
1657. R. Ligon, Barbadoes (1673), 21. So grievously visited with the plague, that before a month … the living were hardly able to bury the dead.
1662. E. Hookes, in Extr. St. P. rel. Friends, II. (1911), 154. In the White Lyon prisson … about 23 of them vissitted with sicknesse and a high feever.
1727. Swift, God’s Rev. agst. Punning, Wks. 1755, III. I. 171. One Samuel an Irishman, for his forward attempt to pun … hath been visited all his life after with bulls and blunders.
1754. Med. Observ. (1776), I. 43. Being visited by a gentle attack [of gout] in both feet.
1832. R. & J. Lander, Exped. Niger, I. iii. 120. Since leaving Jenna, we have met an incredible number of persons visited with the loss of one eye.
1855. Poultry Chron., III. 148/1. Some which were … tended with constant care, all died: and similar mortality has visited others also.
1866. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. xxiii. 602. Cornwall must have been more lightly visited with the Plague than most English counties.
b. spec. in pass. Bewitched.
1820. Sporting Mag., VII. 101. On account of their stock thus ‘visited,’ as the term is, the infatuated peasantry almost invariably have recourse to charms.
5. To punish or requite (wrongdoing). Also const. with.
a. 1325. Prose Psalter lxxxviii. (lxxxix.) 32. Y shal uisite in chasteing her wickednesses, and her synȝes in vengeaunce.
1382. Wyclif, Exod. xxxii. 34. Y in the day of veniaunce shal visite this synne of hem. [Also Jer. xiv. 10, Lam. iv. 22, etc.; similarly in later versions.]
1535. Coverdale, Jer. xxiii. 2. Therfore, now will I vyset the wickednes of youre ymaginacions, saieth ye Lorde.
1833. I. Taylor, Fanat., ii. 41. So jealous is Nature of her constitutions that she rigorously visits every infringement of them. Ibid., 49. The instinct of Retribution or the vehement desire to see wrong visited with punishment.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 496. What, he often said, could be more unjust, than to visit speculations with penalties which ought to be reserved for acts?
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xix. 310. Mild offences were visited with the loss of eyes or ears.
b. To avenge, or inflict punishment for (wrongdoing) on or upon (also † in, into) a person.
1382. Wyclif, Exod. xx. 3. Visitynge the wickidnes of fadris in sones into the thridde and the ferthe generacioun. Ibid., Jer. xxiii. 2. Y shal visite vp on ȝow the malice of ȝoure studies.
1535. Coverdale, Numb. xiv. 18. The Lorde … vysiteth the myszdede of the fathers vpon the children.
1595. Shaks., John, II. i. 179. Thy sinnes are visited in this poore childe. Ibid. (1596), Merch. V., III. v. 16. So the sins of my mother should be visited vpon me.
1611. Bible, Jer. xxiii. 2. Behold I will visite vpon you the euill of your doings.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 955. I to that place would speed before thee,… That on my head all might be visited.
1813. Shelley, Q. Mab, VIII. 181. Which doubly visits on the tyrants’ heads The long-protracted fulness of their woe.
1831. Keble, Serm., v. (1848), 118. Thus, reversing the Scripture rule most unfairly, men visit the sins of the children on the fathers.
1866. G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., xiii. (1875), 266. He visited the daughter’s fault upon the son.
c. To inflict (punishment) on one. rare.
1836. J. Gilbert, Chr. Atonem., ix. (1852), 292. It is said to be of the essence of legal penalty to visit punishment on the person of the offender.
6. absol. To take vengeance or inflict punishment. † Also const. on or over.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. x. 12. I shal visite vpon the fruyt of the gret doende herte of the king of Assur. Ibid., xxvii. 1. In that dai viseten shal the Lord in his harde swerd … vp on leuyathan.
1609. Bible (Douay), Isa. xiii. 11. And I will visite over the evils of the world, and against the impious their iniquitie.
1840. De Quincey, Essenes, III. When the vilest outrages were offered by foreigners to their women, probably they [sc. the Sicarii] ‘visited’ for such atrocities.
II. 7. To make a practice of going to (persons in sickness or distress) in order to comfort or assist them.
c. 1250. Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 28. For þo luue of gode wakie, go ine pelrimage, uisiti þe poure, and to sike.
c. 1315. Shoreham, I. 1032. [To] Vysyty syke and prysone, And helpe pouere at nede.
c. 1375. Lay Folks’ Catech., 1133. Whi schuld venym or stynk lette vs to visite men in presun.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 412. I visited neuere fieble men, ne fettered folke in puttes.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 68.
| Visite the pore, with intyre diligence, | |
| On al nedy have thow compassioun. |
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 231. Helpe þe seke, and vysed hom þat be in prison.
c. 1491. Chast. Goddes Chyld., 13. Also it is good to visite seke folke that ben holden goostly lyuers.
1526. Tindale, Jas. i. 27. To vysit the frendlesse and widdowes in their adversite.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 861. You shall this tweluemonth terme from day to day, Visite the speechlesse sicke. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., II. iii. 4. Bound by my charity,… I come to visite the afflicted spirits Here in the prison.
1687. J. Renwick, in A. Shields, Life (1724), 219. Ye must visit the Sick and these who are in Distress.
1795. Paley (title), The Clergyman’s Companion in Visiting the Sick.
1862. Chambers’ Encycl., IV. 541/1. The deplorable condition of the female prisoners in Newgate attracted her [Elizabeth Fry’s] attention, and she resolved upon visiting them.
absol. a. 1591. H. Smith, Wks. (1867), II. 22. The devil goeth a-visiting, he will teach the sick how they shall recover their health.
b. Similarly with reference to individual cases.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 16013. Til his felaus he yede He went him for to wisit þaim, for þar-of had þai nede.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 4388. He lay yn hys bedde long Sone aftyr betydde a lytte Þe kyng come, hym to vysyte.
13[?]. Seuyn Sages (W.), 1138. He let of-sende … Hise neyebours him to visite, And told … Hou his deth was comen him on.
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 50. Þere shal no broþir ne sister sene othir in prison, [but] þat he shal comyn and vesyten hym and comfordyn hym.
1530. Palsgr., 766/1. It is an almesse dede to visyte the poore man, he hath ben long sycke.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, l. 167. It pleaseth me well that this caytyue Huon, who endureth myche payne, be vysytyd by thee.
1548–9. (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Vis. Sick. If the person visited bee very sicke, then the curate may end his exhortacion at this place.
1607. Shaks., Cor., I. iii. 85. Come, you must go visit the good Lady that lies in.
1645. Caryl, Expos. Job, I. 636. Christ pronounceth the blessing on them who, when he was in prison, visited him.
1712. N. Spinckes (title), The Sick Man Visited; and furnished with Instructions, Meditations, and Prayers.
1808. Eliz. Hamilton, Cottagers of Glenburnie, x. 230. He [the minister] had been sent for in his absence to visit a sick parishioner.
8. To go to see (a person) in a friendly or sociable manner; to call upon as an act of friendliness or politeness, or for some special parpose; also, to stay with for a short time as a guest.
13[?]. Arth. & Merlin, 701. Biside þer woned an ermite, þat þider com, þis [= these] to visite.
13[?]. Guy Warw. (A.), 4450. Whende ichil in-to mi cuntre, Mine frendes to visite & to se.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 325. Þat tyme whanne Moyses visited his breþeren in þe lond of Iessen, he slowȝ a man of þe Egipcians.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), v. 39. And whan the Soudan wille, he may go visite him.
1413–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, III. 3764. Hector in herte cauȝte an appetite … Þe same day Grekis to vesite.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, II. iv. (1883), 47. The knyght enulphus which cam the same nyght with his squyer for to visite his lord.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Rich. III., 46. As though he had gone secretely to visite a familiar frende of his.
1580. E. Knight, Trial Truth, To Chr. Rdr. A friend of myne viziting me at my chamber, and finding me so solitary exercised [etc.].
1656. Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Pol. Touchstone (1674), 268. This Duke visited … Prospero Colonna, of whom he was received with all sorts of Honour.
1676. Lady Chaworth, in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 29. Lady Cleaveland is not, they say, much satisfied in France because the greatest ladies doe not visit her.
1706. E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 61. He’s too lazy and proud to visit common Sailors.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XV. ix. Who, though some overnice ladies will not be seen with her, is visited (as they term it) by the whole town.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, xxvi. Vivaldi was visited in his prison by a man whom he had never consciously seen before.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xlvii. Had he not been so great a Prince very few possibly would have visited him.
1860. Warter, Sea-board, II. 461. How many of the friends I was on my way to visit are no more seen!
1870. Dickens, E. Drood, vii. He comes here visiting his relation, Mr. Jasper.
fig. 1591. Shaks., Two Gent., I. i. 60. Let me heare from thee by Letters … And I likewise will visite thee with mine.
1683. Pennsylv. Archives, I. 72. I have long promised myself to visit thee wth a Letter.
† b. To have cohabitation with (one of the opposite sex). Obs. rare.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 10820. Now the maner was most of þo mylde wemen, Thre mones with mirthe þo men for to viset.
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 24. The men are accustomed to vysyte the women once in the yeare.
c. Of a medical man: To attend (a patient) professionally.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. xii. 93. [The physician] is bound to visite him foure times a daye, vntill suche time as he haue recouered his health.
1607. Peele’s Jests, 7. The gentlewoman … sent one of the men to desire the Doctor to come and visit her Husband.
1707. Floyer, Physic. Pulse-Watch, 253. The Physicians themselves in China are Apothecaries, and when they Visit their Patients, they carry a Servant loaded with their Medicines.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Physician, Clinical Physicians were those who visited their Patients a-bed, to examine their Cases.
1768. Med. Observ. (1772), IV. 5. About four o’clock I visited her again, and found that the vomiting had ceased.
1800. Med. Jrnl., III. 409. The District, in which the Patients of the Finsbury Dispensary are visited.
1840. Penny Cycl., XVIII. 133/1. For visiting a patient out of his own city he [Petrus de Abano] charged … about six pounds per day.
1886. in Brit. Med. Jrnl. (1887), 486/1. In cases of urgent necessity, patients will be visited at their own houses.
d. transf. To go to (a person, etc.) with hostile intentions.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lviii. 196. Syr, cause your men too be armed, and let vs go vysyte the Admyrall Galaffer.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., IV. iv. 37. For if Lord Percy thriue not, ere the King Dismisse his power, he meanes to visit vs.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., I. i. Before I touch The banks of rest, my ghost shall visite her.
1607. Shaks., Cor., IV. v. 148. Set downe … thine own waies, Whether to knocke against the Gates of Rome, Or rudely visit them in parts remote.
e. absol. To make a call or calls; to pay calls; to maintain friendly or social intercourse by this means; also, to spend a short time with one as a guest; to pay visits of this kind.
In the first quot. app. ‘to go canvassing.’
1626. Meade, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 230. Hereupon on Tuesday morning … some durst be so bold as to visitt for the contrary in publick.
1645. Caryl, Expos. Job, I. 636. It is … more extraordinary to visit in a morning, and most, early in the morning.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 24, ¶ 5. They are qualify’d rather to add to the Furniture of the House (by filling an empty Chair) than to the Conversation they come into when they visit.
1753. Miss Collier, Art Torment., I. ii. (1811), 54. Unless … she happens to receive any particular address from the young gentlemen who visit at your house.
1798. S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., II. 546. I found myself very sad, and lonely,… so all my kindred made it a point to have me a visiting among them.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, I. vii. Busied with his studies, and professing ‘not to visit.’
1841. Thackeray, Gt. Hoggarty Diam., xiii. Her ladyship knows my address, having visited here.
1894. L. Alma-Tadema, Wings of Icarus, 41. A spinster … who spends her life visiting from place to place.
fig. 1837. Dickens, Pickw., xxii. You rayther want somebody to look arter you, sir, wen your judgment goes a wisitin’.
9. To go to look at († or explore); to inspect or examine; to look into or see to (something); in later use esp. to examine (vessels, goods, baggage, etc.) officially.
Rarely with clause as object, as in Milton, P. L., VIII. 45.
13[?]. K. Alis., 6081 (Laud MS.). Whan hij han rested a lyte, Þe lande hij wenden to visite. Hij founden narewe paþes, & liȝtt fen.
13[?]. Cour de L., 645. Thus they vysyted the Holy Land How they myght wynne it to her hand.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 4. Þe kyng Ine gart crie Home forto wend to childe & to wife, To visitte her londes, to solace þer life.
1388. Wyclif, Job v. 24. And thou visitynge thi fairnesse [gloss, that is, biholding thi prosperite] schalt not do synne.
14[?]. Tretyce, in W. of Henley’s Husb. (1890), 58. Loke þat ye viset your þynges wisely & often … also loke you visite often tymis your servauntes.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, III. iii. (1883), 94. Also ought they to rede visite and to knowe the statutes … of the contre.
c. 1500. Melusine, xxi. 139. There he made come … all the Captayns & chieftayns … to behold & vysyte theire harneys, yf eny thing wanted.
1514. Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshman (Percy Soc.), 8. Faustus, aryse thou out of thy lyttre hote, Go se and vysyte our wethers in the cote.
1530. Palsgr., Introd., 5. When they had thorowly visyted my said two bokes.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xix. 21 b. Visiting afterwards theyr teeth and eyes, as though they had been horses.
1601. Mountjoy, Lett. to Cecil, 13 Nov., in Moryson, Itin. (1617), II. 157. It groweth now about foure a clocke in the morning at which time I lightly chuse to visit our Guards my selfe.
1654. Bramhall, Just Vind., vii. (1661), 199. All Bulls and Missives which come from Rome to France are to be seen and visited, to try if there be nothing in them prejudicial [etc.].
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 182. We were introduced into the City by the Trucheman of the Convent, who came with a Turk belonging to the Basha, that visited our Baggage.
1730. T. Boston, Mem., viii. (1899), 161. The synod-book was once a year to be filled up for the General Assembly to visit it.
1737. Gentl. Mag., VII. 685/1. That no British Vessels shall be visited or molested … by the Judges of Contraband.
1772. Regul. H. M. Service at Sea, 17. A Captain … is immediately to repair on Board, and visit her throughout, in Company with his Officers.
1778. Orme, Hist. Milit. Trans. Indostan, VI. II. 21. A passport, or dustuck, signed by the president of Calcutta, should exempt the goods it specified from being visited or stopped by the officers of the Bengal government.
1822. Shelley, Fragm. Unfin. Drama, 155. I rose, and went, Visiting my flowers from pot to pot.
1897. [see VISIT sb. 3 b].
b. spec. To go to (an institution) for the purpose of seeing that everything is in due order; to exercise a periodic surveillance or supervision over, or make a special investigation into (management or conduct).
c. 1325. Poem Times Edw. II. (Percy Soc.), x. The erchedeknes that beth sworn To visite holy cherche,… welle begynne Febleche to wyrche.
1533–4. Act 25 Hen. VIII., c. 21 § 14. Provyded alway that the seid Archebisshopp of Canterburye … shall have noo power or auctoritie … to vysite or vexe any Monasteries.
1535. in Lett. Suppress. Monasteries (Camden), 76. Whan I have visite hys see, this nyght I wilbe at Feversham Abbay.
1558. Bp. Watson, 7 Sacram., 148. Bishoppes haue power … to call synodes … to visit theyr diocesanes.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 159. The said Bischope went to wissit ewerie kirk withtin his diosie four tymes in the ȝeir.
1640. in J. Campbell, Balmerino & Abbey, III. iii. (1867), 191. The Presbyterie of Cupar did visitt the kirk.
1690. Wood, Life (O.H.S.), III. 334. Jonathan Trelawney, bishop of Exon visited Exeter College July 26. Dr. Arthur Bury, the rector, expelled.
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 96. The Bishop ought to visit his Diocess every Year in his own Person.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 9. To appoint a commission with power to visit and govern the Church of England.
1868. J. H. Blunt. Ref. Ch. Eng., I. 52. A faculty empowering Wolsey to visit those English monasteries.
absol. 1575–85. Abp. Sandys, Serm., xiii. 217. His orderly proceeding appeareth in this, that he first visited and then reformed.
1621. Baynes, Diocesan’s Tryall, Pref. A 2 b. When Arch. Bancroft sent M. Harsenet to Visite as they call it, that is … to suppresse those that are not friends to the Bishops Kingdome.
1691. Case of Exeter Coll., 46. This is every whit as rational, as that a Bishop, being a Visitor of a College, &c. should take his Episcopal Authority along with him when he goes to Visit.
1713. Gibson, Codex, XLII. viii. 1009/1. To enable Archdeacons to Visit with greater Authority and Effect.
1721. in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., VIII. 304. The said Lord Arch-Bishop … may visit once every year conformable to the Rule.
† c. To examine medically. Obs.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Alfonce, i. When the medecyns had sene and vysyted hym … they sayd that he had no bodyly sekeness.
c. 1500. Melusine, xxxvi. 288. Your woundes and soores must be vysyted and ouersene.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, x. 28. He sent for his surgens, causyng them to serche his wounde;… and when they hadde well vysytyd the wounde, they sayde [etc.].
10. To go to (a temple, shrine, etc.) for the purpose of worship or as a religious duty.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, xxvi. 8. Þat i see þe will of lord & visite his tempile.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VIII. 53. Whan Kyng Henry had i-visited mekeliche Thomas þe martires tombe.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 3094. Þer was a lady dwellyng in þat abbay Þat wold vysed hurre tombe everyche day.
1465. Paston Lett., II. 233. I pray you voysyt the Rood of Northedor and Seynt Savyour,… and lat my sustyr Margery goo with yow to pray to them.
c. 1482. J. Kay, trans. Caoursin’s Siege of Rhodes (1870), ¶ 11. Hys entente … was: to uysyte deuoutely the blessed and holy sepulchre … in Jerusalem.
1509. Bp. Fisher, Funeral Serm. C’tess Richmond, Wks. (1876), 300. Her legges and fete [had been occupied] in vysytynge the aulters and other holy places.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lx. 209. We are goynge a pylgremage … to vysyt the holy sepulcure.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 614. In Thagia is visited the Sepulchre of a holy man.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 792. His Mother’s Precepts he performs with Care; The Temples visits, and adores with Pray’r.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Sepulcher, The Eastern Pilgrimages are all made with Design to visit the Holy Sepulcher.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, xxxii. The pilgrim … carried a palm branch in his hand, to shew he had visited the Holy Land.
1885. Encycl. Brit., XIX. 92/1. Chinese converts [to Buddhism] … came to visit the holy places and to collect the sacred books.
b. To go to (a place) for the purpose of sight-seeing or pleasure, or on some special errand.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7619. This knowe ye, sir, as wel as I, That lovers gladly wole visiten The places there her loves habiten.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xv. 70. Þe whilk in swilk maner visitez all rewmes fer to aspie þe maners of vs Cristen men.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 3428. Bot in short tyme after þis His owne contrey visitede he wold.
1535. Coverdale, Ezra vii. 14. Beynge sent of the kynge and of the seuen lordes of the councell, to vyset Iuda and Ierusalem.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 240. They had seine and visitit the maist pairt of scotland.
1593. Norden, Spec. Brit., Cornw. (1728), 35. A like hamlet … moste visited with Tynners, where they lodge and feede, being nere their mynes.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VIII. 364. A French Lapidator, intending to visit Fez, ioyned company with me.
1657. R. Ligon, Barbadoes (1673), 7. We were to have visited a small Island called Soll; by the intreating of a Portugal we carried with us.
1693. Dowdall, in Ingleby, Shaksp. Cent. of Praise, 417. The 1st Remarkable place in this County yt I visitted was Stratford super avon.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, vi. He designed to visit again, at midnight, the fortress of Paluzzi.
1837. Lockhart, Scott, I. vii. 210. It was also … at this time that Scott visited for the first time Glammis.
1854. Poultry Chron., II. 249/2. About 4000 persons visited the poultry tent in the course of the day.
1863. Lyell, Antiq. Man, 2. I have visited … many parts of England, France and Belgium.
transf. 1894. Newton, Dict. Birds, 554. One tree after another is visited by the active little rovers, and its branches examined.
c. transf. Of things.
Sometimes with suggestion of sense 8.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. iii. 275. All places that the eie of heauen visits. Ibid. (1601), Jul. C., II. i. 290. You are … As deere to me, as are the ruddy droppes That visit my sad heart.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, III. xxvii. 201. There are partes whereas the sea enters far within the land, as comming to visite it. Ibid., IV. viii. 230. Forasmuch as those places are never visited with the sunne.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 240. How from that Saphire Fount the crisped Brooks … Ran Nectar, visiting each plant.
1757. Gray, Bard, 40. Dear, as the light that visits these sad eyes.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 351. The Seine … runs to the northwest, visiting Troyes, Paris, and Rouen, in its way.
1816. Shelley, Mont Blanc, 50. Some say that gleams of a remoter world Visit the soul in sleep.
1847. Emerson, Musketaquid, 12. For me in showers, in sweeping showers, the spring Visits the valley.
d. Of birds, etc.: To resort to or frequent (land or sea, a country, etc.) for a limited period or at certain seasons.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), VI. 93. As they never visit land,… their feathers take a colour from their situation.
1802. Montagu, Ornith. Dict., s.v. Blackcap, The blackcap is a migrative species visiting us early in the spring.
1840. Cuvier’s Anim. Kingd., 199. The Mountain Chaffinch … which visits Britain in Winter.
1887. Newton, in Encycl. Brit., XXII. 577. In winter the Storks of Europe retire to Africa,… while those of Asia visit India.
absol. 1831. T. Nuttall, in Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts & Sci. (1833), I. 96. [The] Canada Jay … regularly visits, if it does not breed, in Maine or New Hampshire.
† 11. To come to (a person) with some accompaniment; to supply or enrich with some benefit.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 18158 (Cott.). Þe lem þat come wit him, Brast all þe bandes of ur site, And visite vs wit grett delite.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 1726. Thynk one þe valyaunt prynce þat vesettez us ever With landez and lordscheppez, whare us beste lykes.
1591. Shaks., Two Gentl., II. ii. 83. Visit by night your Ladies chamber-window With some sweet comfort.
1645. Caryl, Expos. Job, I. 637. God visiteth his [people] with mercies.
