Forms: 4–5 exort-, exhortacioun, 5–6 exhortacion, -yon, exortacion, (6 exhortatyoun, exortation) 5– exhortation. [ad. L. exhortātiōn-em, n. of action f. exhortārī to EXHORT. Cf. Fr. exhortation.]
1. The action or process of exhorting, of earnestly admonishing or urging to what is deemed laudable conduct; an instance of this.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Tim. iv. 13. Til I come take tent to redynge, to exortacioun and techynge.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VII. viii. 720. Eftyr … syndry exhortatyownys.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 6. To gadre money or tresor by subtyl exortation.
1505. Fisher, Penit. Ps., Wks. 1. This treatyse … was made … at the exortacion and sterynge of … princesse Margarete.
1552. Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 30. Thair mother gaf exhortacion to ilkane of thame.
a. 1656. Hales, Tracts (1677), 11. Exhortations from all sin.
1708. Atterbury, Serm. on Job xxii. 21 (1723), II. vi. 224. There is no Room for any Exhortations to Charity.
1828. Whately, Rhet., III. Introd. A great part of the Preacher’s business consists of Exhortation.
1841. D’Israeli, Amen. Lit. (1867), 177. An exhortation to the youthful monarch to check his own self-indulgence.
2. A set speech delivered for the purpose of exhorting; a discourse; esp. a formal address in the course of a religious observance, liturgical formulary or rite. Also in phrase, To make an exhortation.
c. 1450. Why I can’t be a Nun, 373, in E. E. P. (1862), 148. Now, ladyes, taketh gode hede to thys exhortacion That I haue tawȝt yow in thys lore.
1547. Boorde, Introd. Knowl., xxxvii. 215. All the people war gathered about him, to heare him make an exortation.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, II. 326. The place … where Moses made those divine exhortations some say was Bethabara.
1704. Nelson, Fest. & Fasts, II. ix. (1739), 582. As the Exhortation before the Communion suggests to us.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, v. The clergyman … delivering (very unaffectedly and simply) the closing exhortation.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., III. xviii. 28. The result of this exhortation was a long and … important session.
3. attrib.
1872. Shipley, Glossary, 190. Exhortation Week, The week before Septuagesima Sunday; so called in the Eastern Church because the faithful are then exhorted to prepare for the Great Fast. Also called Exhortatory Week.
