Obs. or arch. Also 6–7 excœc-, 7–9 excæcation. [f. prec.: see -ATION.]
1. The action of putting out the eyes; punishment by blinding; also, an instance of the same; the state or fact of being blinded.
1613. Daniel, Coll. Hist. Eng., 161. He committed these barbarous examples of cruelty by excæcations and miserable dismembering the people.
1678. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, III. 95. God … punished Elymas, the Sorcerer, with corporal Excecation.
1721–1800. in Bailey.
1827. Sir H. Taylor, Isaac Comnenus, III. v. 124. Death, Not excæcation, if the thought of that Calls up these looks of horror.
† 2. fig. The action of blinding mentally or spiritually: the condition of being mentally blinded.
1529. Frith, Antithesis (1829), 317. This excœcation … God hath sent into the world for sin.
1588. Allen, Admon., 26. The state of kinge Pharao his obduration and excecation in wilfull wickednes.
1622. H. Sydenham, Serm. Iacob & Esav (1626), 30–1. God doth concurre to the excæcation and hardening both of the minde and heart.
1640. Bp. Reynolds, Passions, viii. 65. This Deceit and Excecation is a proper worke of Passion.
