visitation

noun

1. the act of visiting.
2. a formal visit, as one permitted by a court’s granting of visitation rights or by parents invited to a school to observe the work of students.
3. a visit for the purpose of making an official examination or inspection, as of a bishop to a diocese.
4. (usually initial capital letter) the visit of the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. Luke 1:36–56.
5. (initial capital letter) a church festival, held on July 2, in commemoration of this visit.
6. the administration of comfort or aid, or of affliction or punishment: a visitation of the plague.
7. an affliction or punishment, as from God.
8. the appearance or coming of a supernatural influence or spirit.

noun

1. an official call or visit for the purpose of inspecting or examining an institution, esp such a visit made by a bishop to his diocese
2. a visiting of punishment or reward from heaven
3. any disaster or catastrophea visitation of the plague
4. an appearance or arrival of a supernatural being
5. any call or visit
6. informal an unduly prolonged social call

noun

1. 1. the visit made by the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:39–56)
   2. the Church festival commemorating this, held on July 2
2. a religious order of nuns, the Order of the Visitation, founded in 1610 by St Francis of Sales and dedicated to contemplation and the cultivation of humility, gentleness, and sisterly love

n.

c.1300, “a visit by an ecclesiastical representative to examine the condition of a parish, abbey, etc.,” from Latin visitationem (nominative visitatio), noun of action from past participle stem of visitare (see visit). The supernatural sense of “a sight, appearance” is attested from mid-14c.