I. ˈvizə̇t, usu -ə̇d.+V verb
( visited -zə̇d.ə̇d, -z(ə̇)tə̇d ; visited ; visiting -zə̇d.iŋ, -z(ə̇)tiŋ ; visits )
Etymology: Middle English visiten, from Old French visiter, from Latin visitare to go to see, visit, freq. of visere to look at, go to see, from vidēre to see — more at wit
transitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to come to or upon as a spiritual help : comfort — used of the deity
visit us with Thy salvation — Charles Wesley
b.
(1) : to bring trouble or harm to : afflict — usually used with with
visited his people with distempers — Tobias Smollett
(2) : inflict , impose — usually used with on or upon
visited his wrath upon them
visited everlasting grief on many people because of a few rash words — T.B.Costain
the court visits all costs on them — H.J.Laski
c.
(1) : to take vengeance for : avenge
visit the sins of the fathers upon the children
(2) obsolete : to move vengefully against : come at
ere the king dismiss his power, he means to visit us — Shakespeare
(3) : to exact retribution for : punish
now will he … visit their sins — Hos 8:13 (Authorized Version)
the legislature visited the action with censure
d. : to present itself to or come over momentarily
visited by a strange notion
the surprise which visited me when I saw the blood — R.P.Warren
2.
a. : to go to see and care for as a charitable work : minister to
visiting the sick of the parish
b.
(1) : to go to attend (a patient) — used especially of a physician
(2) : to go to see (as a physician or dentist) for professional service
3.
a. : to make a social call upon
visited friends in the early evening
b. : to reside with temporarily as a guest : stay with
visited a colleague for a week at his summer home
c. : to have sexual relations with
d. : to frequent temporarily
many migratory birds visit these shores annually
4.
a. : to go to see or sojourn at (a place) for a particular purpose (as for business, pleasure, or sight-seeing)
what local points of interest they should visit — Dana Burnet
a medicinal spring … frequently visited by invalids — American Guide Series: New Hampshire
b. : to go to (a place of business) on an errand
enough time to visit the stores before dinner
5.
a. obsolete : to come to observe or test the spiritual state of — used of the deity
God often descends to visit men unseen — John Milton
b. : to go or come officially to oversee or correct the operation of : inspect
a bishop visiting his diocese
a congressional committee visiting a military base
a department head visiting classrooms
c. archaic : to make an official examination of (as baggage or a ship and its cargo) : search
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to make an official inspection
2.
a. : to make a call
spends most of her afternoons visiting
b. : to stay as a guest
visits here for a month in every year
3. : to carry on casual conversation : chat
let's sit here and visit together for a while
visiting with a neighbor on the telephone
4. : to progress around the set with a figure in square dancing
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a short stay (as for sociability or friendship) that is usually longer than a social call
make a visit
a visit with friends
pay a visit
return a visit
suburban housewives spending their afternoons in visits and card playing
b. : a brief residence as a guest
a weekend visit with friends
c. : an extended but temporary stay : sojourn
his annual summer visits abroad
2.
a. : a journey to and stay or short sojourn at a place for a particular purpose
a visit to a museum
a ship's visit to a port
a visit to a neighboring town
an educational visit to a steel mill
visits to points of historical interest
b. : a brief stop on an errand or for a business purpose
telephoned between visits to the stores
a salesman's visit to a firm
repeated visits to theatrical agencies
3.
a.
(1) : a professional call (as of a physician to treat a patient)
paid the doctor for three home visits
(2) : a pastoral call by a clergyman on a parishioner
met the minister returning from his afternoon visits
b. : a call upon a professional man (as a physician or dentist) for consultation or treatment
urged to make regular visits to his dentist
4. : an official call or tour (as for supervision or inspection) : visitation
a visit by a national officer to the local chapter of a fraternal order
a committee of trustees on a visit to a university
5. : an official examination or search (as of goods or cargo) ; specifically : the act of a naval officer of one state in boarding a neutral merchant vessel of another state in the exercise of the right of search