[ad. L. expostulātiōn-em, n. of action f. expostulāre: see EXPOSTULATE.]
1. The action of expostulating or remonstrating in a friendly manner; earnest and kindly protest. An instance of the same.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretary, I. (1625), 144. Request, complaint, expostulation.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. ii. 4–5. Adam … upon the expostulation of God … replyed, I heard thy voice, [etc.].
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 25. Private Accusation of one Friend touching another, is nothing else but a friendly Expostulation with him.
1838. Lytton, Calderon, vii. 352. All my expostulations have been in vain.
1852. Mrs. Jameson, Leg. Madonna (1857), 274. Mary stands before her Son in an attitude of expostulation.
2. An expostulatory exclamation or address; an uttered remonstrance, protest or reproof.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxv. (1611), 341. Those gracious expostulations, Simon, seest thou this woman?
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., II. 935/55 b. Yet, this generation Hath some who need this tart expostulation.
1748. J. Mason, Elocut., 24. That pathetick Expostulation in the Prophecy of Ezekiel. Why will ye die!
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, I. vi. 146. Vivaldi delivered this expostulation with a rapidity, that left no pause for Ellena to interrupt him.
1840. Macaulay, Clive, 80. That lofty expostulation … glows with the very spirit of the Hebrew poets.
