the act of visiting, or the state of being visited; access for inspection or examination.-specifically: the act of a superior or superintending officer who, in the discharge of his office, visits a corporation, college, etc., to examine into the manner in which it is conducted, and see that its laws and regulations are duly observed and executed; as, the visitation of a diocese by a bishop.-the object of a visit.-the act of a naval commander who visits, or enters on board, a vessel belonging to another nation, for the purpose of ascertaining her character and object, but without claiming or exercising a right of searching the vessel. it is, however, usually coupled with the right of search (see under search), visitation being used for the purpose of search.-special dispensation; communication of divine favor and goodness, or, more usually, of divine wrath and vengeance; retributive calamity; retribution; judgment.-a festival in honor of the visit of the virgin mary to elisabeth, mother of john the baptist, celebrated on the second of july.