I. ˈvi-zət verb
( vis·it·ed ˈvi-zə-təd, ˈviz-təd ; vis·it·ing ˈvi-zə-tiŋ, ˈviz-tiŋ)
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French visiter, from Latin visitare, frequentative of visere to go to see, frequentative of vidēre to see
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1.
a. archaic : comfort — used of the Deity
visit us with Thy salvation — Charles Wesley
b.
(1) : afflict
visit ed his people with distempers — Tobias Smollett
(2) : inflict , impose
visit ed his wrath upon them
c. : avenge
visit ed the sins of the fathers upon the children
d. : to present itself to or come over momentarily
was visit ed by a strange notion
2. : to go to see in order to comfort or help
3.
a. : to pay a call on as an act of friendship or courtesy
b. : to reside with temporarily as a guest
c. : to go to see or stay at (a place) for a particular purpose (as business or sightseeing)
d. : to go or come officially to inspect or oversee
a bishop visit ing his parishes
intransitive verb
1. : to make a visit ; also : to make frequent or regular visits
2. : chat , converse
enjoys visit ing with the neighbors
II. noun
Date: 1621
1.
a. : a short stay : call
b. : a brief residence as a guest
c. : an extended stay : sojourn
2. : a journey to and stay or short sojourn at a place
3. : an official or professional call or tour : visitation
4. : the act of a naval officer in boarding a merchant ship on the high seas in exercise of the right of search