visit

views updated May 23 2018

vis·it / ˈvizit/ • v. (-it·ed , -it·ing ) [tr.] 1. go to see and spend time with (someone) socially: I came to visit my grandmother. ∎  go to see and spend time in (a place) as a tourist. ∎  stay temporarily with (someone) or at (a place) as a guest: we hope you enjoy your stay and will visit us again | [intr.] I don't live here—I'm only visiting. ∎  go to see (someone or something) for a specific purpose, such as to make an inspection or to receive or give professional advice or help: inspectors visit all the hotels. ∎  [intr.] (visit with) go to see (someone) socially: he went out to visit with his pals. ∎  [intr.] inf. chat: there was nothing to do but visit with one another. ∎  go to (a Web site or Web page): visit us at www.flycreekcidermill.com. ∎  (chiefly in biblical use) (of God) come to (a person or place) in order to bring comfort or salvation. 2. (often be visited) inflict (something harmful or unpleasant) on someone: the mockery visited upon him by his schoolmates. ∎  (of something harmful or unpleasant) afflict (someone): they were visited with epidemics of a strange disease. ∎ archaic punish (a person or a wrongful act): offenses were visited with the loss of eyes or ears.• n. an act of going or coming to see a person or place socially, as a tourist, or for some other purpose: a visit to the doctor. ∎  a temporary stay with a person or at a place. ∎  an informal conversation.DERIVATIVES: vis·it·a·ble adj.ORIGIN: Middle English: from Old French visiter or Latin visitare ‘go to see,’ frequentative of visare ‘to view,’ from videre ‘to see.’

visit

views updated May 23 2018

visit (of God) come to, in order to comfort or benefit; go to persons in sickness, etc. to comfort them; †make trial of XIII; deal severely with, assail, afflict XIV; punish, requite; go to see in a friendly way (attend as a physician XVI); go to in order to inspect, for worship, etc. — (O)F. visiter — L. vīsitāre go to see, frequent. of vīsāre view, see to, visit, f. vīs-, pp. stem of vidēre see (see prec.). The earlier uses are based on those of L. visitare in Vulg.
So visit sb. XVII. — F. visite, or immed. f. the vb. visitant XVI. — F. or L. visitation XIV. — (O)F. late L. visitatorial XVII. f. vīsitāt-, ppl. stem of L. vīsitāre. visitor XIV. — AN. visitour, (O)F. visiteur.