[vis.it] vb vis.it.ed ; vis.it.ing [ME, fr. OF visiter, fr. L visitare, freq. of visere to go to see, freq. of videre to see] vt (13c) 1 a archaic: comfort--used of the Deity "~ us with Thy salvation --Charles Wesley" b (1): afflict "~ed his people with distempers --Tobias Smollett" (2): inflict, impose "~ed his wrath upon them" c: avenge "~ed the sins of the fathers upon the children" d: to present itself to or come over momentarily "was ~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 ~ing his parishes" ~ vi 1: to make a visit; also: to make frequent or regular visits
2: chat, converse
[2]visit n (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