visitation
visitation Lexical Profile
visitation Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An official, formal, or legal visit, especially the right granted by a court to a noncustodial parent to spend time with their child.
"The family court judge established a strict schedule for weekend visitation."
North American A formal gathering before a funeral at which friends and relatives may visit with the bereaved family and pay respects to the deceased.
"Hundreds of community members attended the evening visitation at the funeral home."
The appearance of a divine or supernatural being, or a severe affliction, disaster, or punishment viewed as sent by God.
"Medieval chroniclers often interpreted the plague as a divine visitation upon the city."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'visit' refers to any ordinary social or professional call, 'visitation' is reserved for formal, legal, religious, or funeral contexts, such as parental visitation rights or a funeral viewing.
• Rhymes for visitation
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English from Old French visitation, from Latin visitatio ('a visiting, appearance, or punishment'), a noun of action from visitatus, the past participle of visitare ('to go to see').