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¹visit

verb vis·it \ˈvi-zət\

: to go somewhere to spend time with (someone, such as a friend or relative)

: to go somewhere to see and talk to (someone) in an official way or as part of your job

: to go to see (a doctor, dentist, etc.)

vis·it·ed \ˈvi-zə-təd, ˈviz-təd\ vis·it·ing \ˈvi-zə-tiŋ, ˈviz-tiŋ\

Full Definition of VISIT

transitive verb

a archaic : comfort —used of the Deity <visit us with Thy salvation — Charles Wesley>

b (1) : afflict <visited his people with distempers — Tobias Smollett> (2) : inflict, impose <visited his wrath upon them>

c : avenge <visited the sins of the fathers upon the children>

d : to present itself to or come over momentarily <was visited by a strange notion>

: to go to see in order to comfort or help

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 visiting his parishes>

intransitive verb

: to make a visit; also : to make frequent or regular visits

: chat, converse <enjoys visiting with the neighbors>

See visit defined for English-language learners

See visit defined for kids

Origin of VISIT

Middle English, from Anglo-French visiter, from Latin visitare, frequentative of visere to go to see, frequentative of vidēre to see

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to VISIT

Synonyms: call (on or upon), drop in (on), see

Antonyms: avoid, shun

²visit

noun

: an occasion when someone goes to a place to see and talk to someone for usually a brief time

: an occasion when someone goes to a place for pleasure, as part of a job, to do something, etc.

: an occasion when you are staying in a hotel, motel, etc.

Full Definition of VISIT

a : a short stay : call

b : a brief residence as a guest

c : an extended stay : sojourn

: a journey to and stay or short sojourn at a place

: an official or professional call or tour : visitation

: the act of a naval officer in boarding a merchant ship on the high seas in exercise of the right of search

See visit defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of VISIT

1621

Related to VISIT

Synonyms: sojourn, stay, tarry

VISIT Defined for Kids

¹visit

verb vis·it \ˈvi-zət\

vis·it·edvis·it·ing

Definition of VISIT for Kids

: to go to see for a particular purpose <visit a friend> <visit a doctor> <visit the zoo>

: to stay with for a time as a guest <I am visiting with relatives.>

: to come to or upon <We were visited by many troubles.>

Word Root of VISIT

The Latin word vidēre, meaning “to see”, and its form vīsis give us the roots vid and vis. Words from the Latin vidēre have something to do with seeing. Anything visible is able to be seen. Something evident is able to be seen, sensed, or understood. The video part of a television is the part that is seen, as opposed to the part that is heard. Vision is the ability to see. To visit is to go somewhere to see someone.