Also 5 visitur, -oure, 6–7 visitour (6 Sc. vesit-, vesatour). [a. AF. visitour (Gower), = OF. visiteor, visiteur (F. visiteur), f. visiter to visit.]
1. One who visits officially for the purpose of inspection or supervision, in order to prevent or remove abuses or irregularities: a. An ecclesiastic, or a lay commissioner, appointed to visit religious establishments, churches, etc., for this end, either at regular intervals or on special occasions.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 23985. Our noble Visitour, Which doth his peyne and his labour to looke for lucre and fals guerdoun.
c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 272. Þe Abbott … oppynlie in þe chapitr … putt forth all þies trispas of þis yong man, when þer visitur was þer.
1483. Cath. Angl., 402/2. A Visitoure, reformator proprie in religione, visitator.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 416. The maister of ye Templers, with an other great ruler of the sayd ordre, which was named visitour of the same.
1550. Crowley, Epigr., 749. These visitours found many stout priestes, but chieflye one That had sondrye benefices.
1585. Holinshed’s Chron., II. Scotl., 440/1. After they had discharged bishops, they agreed to haue superintendents, commissioners, and visitors.
1628. Coke, On Litt., 96. Where a speciall Visitor is appointed vpon the foundation, the complaint must be made to that Visitor.
1676. Degge, Parson’s Counsellor, II. xv. 201. The Clergy and Religious Houses came to this composition, every one to pay such a proportion to their visitors to be freed of that great oppression.
1721. in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., VIII. 305. Whatever the Visitor ordains, the Mother Abbesse and all her Religious shall receive and execute with respect and obedience.
1732. Neal, Hist. Purit., I. 18. The management of which was committed to the Lord Cromwel with the title of Visitor General.
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xlix. V. 102. The formidable name and mission of the Dragon his visitor-general.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 90. An Act was … passed, which … took away from the Crown the power of appointing visitors to superintend the Church.
1872. Jervis, Gallican Ch., I. Introd. 18. An officer, called the Visitor, usually one of the bishops of the province, was appointed to preside over the proceedings.
b. One who has a right or duty of supervision (usually exercised periodically) over a university, college, school or similar institution.
1553. Ascham, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 16. The Visitors have taken this ordre, that every man shall professe the studie eyther of divinitie, law, or physick.
1587. Ld. Burleigh in Collect. (O.H.S.), I. 204. The Archbishop of Canterburie youre Visitor.
1643. Caryl, Expos. Job, v. I. 480. And over Colledges, Hospitals, and such publick Foundations, Visitors are appointed, to see [etc.].
1691. Case of Exeter Coll., 14. In order to which he gets an Appeal drawn up, and carries it to the Lord Bishop of Exeter, visitor of the Colledge, then at London.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 9 Aug., 1682. The Council of the R. Society had it recommended to them to be trustees and visitors, or supervisors, of the Academy which Monsieur Faubert did hope to procure to be built.
1709. Swift, Adv. Relig., Wks. 1755, II. I. 106. Whatever abuses … have crept into the universities … they might in a great degree be reformed by strict injunctions … to the visitors and heads of houses.
1808. W. Wilson, Hist. Dissent. Ch., I. 229. He was appointed by the Protector Oliver, one of the New Visitors of that University.
1829. R. Gilbert, Liber Scholast., 306. The appointment of the mastership [of Sedberg] is vested in the Master and Fellows of St. John’s College, Cambridge, who are the Visitors to the school.
1832. Whately, in Life (1866), I. 155. In certain Colleges … fundamental statutes can only be changed by visitors.
c. In other connections.
1555. Burgh Rec. Edinb. (1871), II. 228. Thomas Boyis vesitour of the baxter craft within this burgh.
1574. in Maitl. Cl. Misc., I. 104. Superflowis bankatting,… as the bailleis and eldaris than vesatouris presentlie declarit.
1600. Hakluyt, Voy., III. 862. An expert mariner or two called Visitors of the shippes, to know whether the ships be well tackled; whether they haue sufficient men.
1624. Bedell, Lett., vi. 94. The French discourse printed at Antwerp cum priuilegio, and approbation of the Visitor of bookes.
1654. trans. Martini’s Conq. China, 154. This Governour, by reason of some corruption, and Avarice of the Visitor of the Country, had some difficulties with him.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. 468. The founder [i.e., the King] his heirs, or assigns, are the visitors of all lay-corporations.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 170. The visitor (now called the ordinary of Newgate).
1897. Daily News, 1 Feb., 7/5. Visitor … is the … name given to those vigilant officers of the Board whose business it is to run truants to earth.
1901. Daily Chron., 29 Aug., 7/1. In 1899 four ladies were appointed as health visitors.
2. a. One who visits from charitable motives or with a view of doing good.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 205. Vertuous visitour to folkys in prisoun.
1536. Lett. Suppress. Monast. (Camden), 133. Most gracyus lord and most worthyst vycytar that ever cam amonckes us.
1610. Shaks., Temp., II. i. 11. Seb. He receiues comfort like cold porredge. Ant. The Visitor will not giue him ore so.
1832. [Elizabeth P. Peabody], trans. (title), Baron Degerando’s Visitor of the Poor.
1863. Biogr. Sk. E. Fry, 45. The cheerfulness visible in their [sc. prisoners’] countenances … conspired to excite the … admiration of their visitors.
1870. [see DISTRICT sb. 6].
b. One who visits with punishment. rare.
1545. Joye, Exp. Dan. i. 12. I am … the visitour and seker out of the wykednes of the fathers in their childern.
3. One who pays a visit to another person or to a household; one who is staying for a time with friends.
1607. Shaks., Timon, I. i. 42. You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors.
1662. J. Strype, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 177. I hear also my brother Sayer is often a visitor.
1693. Dryden, Juvenal, VI. 620. She hires Tormentors, by the Year; she Treats Her Visitours, and talks.
1697. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., II. (1698), 137. They do not care to be crowded with Visitors,… and to be always yoaked in Ceremony.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, Prol. Too singular in his conduct, to pass unnoticed by the visitors.
1838. Lytton, Alice, I. iv. She filled the rooms of the visitors with flowers.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. xxx. 407. After sharing the supper of their hosts, the visitors stretched themselves out and passed the night in … slumber.
1871. E. C. G. Murray, Member for Paris, I. 287. ‘Oh, I’m only a visitor,’ answered Horace modestly.
transf. 1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 130. What is done heere shalbe reuealed vnto you by mine Epistles, whiche shall not be your sealdome visitoures.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 570. The creeping vermin, loathsome to the sight,… A visitor unwelcome.
attrib. 1857. Dickens, Dorrit, xxxii. The visitor-wife and the unseasoned prisoner still lingered.
4. One who visits a place, country, etc., esp. as a sightseer or tourist.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Cynics, The Novelty of the Thing drew abundance of Visitors to the Village.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 71. Sometimes the visitors…, after having hired a person to perform a longer recitation, go away before he commences.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. xvii. 315. It is usual for visitors to the Montauvert to descend to the glacier.
1895. B’ham Y.M.C.A. Record, Oct., 3/2. The usual time of year for the arrival in India of visitors is the middle of October.
b. An animal or bird that occasionally or at regular seasons frequents a certain locality or area.
1859–62. Sir J. Richardson, etc., Mus. Nat. Hist. (1868), I. 425. The Puffin … is a summer visitor to our shores.
1863. Lyell, Antiq. Man, 15. The presence of the wild swan, now only a winter visitor.
1870. N. F. Hele, Aldeburgh, vii. 71. The Glead or Kite … is a very rare visitor.
Hence Visitoress, = VISITRESS.
Also visitorish, visitorless (nonce-words).
a. 1843. Southey, Comm.-Pl. Bk., Ser. II. (1849), 30/2. Their superior was called the Prepostress, and they had Visitoresses, Rectresses, and other dignitaries.
