Obs. Also 6 expugnacion. [a. OF. expugnation, ad. L. expugnātiōn-em, n. of action f. expugnāre: see EXPUGN.]
1. The action of taking by storm; conquest.
1524. More, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 88, I. 255. At Pavia by th’ expugnation wherof he thought to put all the remanant in fere and drede.
1555. Eden, Decades, 171 b. You haue hetherto byn much occupied in thexpugnation and recouerie of the kyngedome of Granata.
a. 1639. Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scot., V. (1677), 270, marg. The Regent intreateth the Queen of Englands help for the expugnation of the Castle.
1680. Morden, Geog. Rect., Spain (1688), 176. The Phocensis … a little before their Expugnation by Cyrus.
b. Storming, assault.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot. (1821), I. 254. Fergus … went with him to the expugnation of sindry othir townis in Italie.
1579. Fenton, Guicciard., IV. (1599), 165. To preuent that succour by the expugnation of Bybienna.
1618. T. Gainsford, P. Warbeck, in Select. fr. Harl. Misc. (1793), 88/1. The worthy general … cast up a strong rampart, or battery, for the expugnation.
2. Subduing or expelling by force of arms.
1429. in Rymer Fœdera (1710), X. 424. The Reduction and Expugnation of th’ Eretikes.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, I. i. 5. The life of a spirituall man ought to bee imployed in the expugnation of these molestfull Iebusites.
1624. Gee, Foot out of Snare, 76. He fought a good fight … in expugnation of Heresies, Schismes and Seditions.
1657. Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., 497. Medicaments for the expugnation of all diseases.
