exhortation
(ɛksɔːˈteɪʃən)
Forms: 4–5 exhort-, exhortacioun, 5–6 exhortacion, -yon, exortacion, (6 exhortatyoun, exortation) 5– exhortation.
[ad. L. exhortātiōn-em, n. of action f. exhortārī to exhort. Cf. Fr. exhortation.]
1. The action or process of exhorting, of earnestly admonishing or urging to what is deemed laudable conduct; an instance of this.
| 1382 Wyclif 1 Tim. iv. 13 Til I come take tent to redynge, to exortacioun and techynge. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. vii. viii. 720 Eftyr..syndry exhortatyownys. 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 6 To gadre money or tresor by subtyl exortation. 1505 Fisher Penit. Ps. Wks. 1 This treatyse..was made..at the exortacion and sterynge of..princesse Margarete. 1552 Abp. Hamilton Catech. (1884) 30 Thair mother gaf exhortacion to ilkane of thame. a 1656 Hales Tracts (1677) 11 Exhortations from all sin. a 1732 Atterbury Serm. (1723) II. vi. 224 There is no Room for any Exhortations to charity. 1828 Whately Rhet. iii. Introd., A great part of the Preacher's business consists of Exhortation. 1841 D'Israeli Amen. Lit. (1867) 177 An exhortation to the youthful monarch to check his own self-indulgence. |
2. A set speech delivered for the purpose of exhorting; a discourse; esp. a formal address in the course of a religious observance, liturgical formulary or rite. Also in phrase, to make an exhortation.
| c 1450 Why I can't be a Nun 373 in E.E.P. (1862) 148 Now, ladyes, taketh gode hede to thys exhortacion That I haue tawȝt yow in thys lore. 1547 Boorde Introd. Knowl. xxxvii. 215 All the people war gathered about him, to heare him make an exortation. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World ii. 326 The place..where Moses made those divine exhortations some say was Bethabara. 1704 Nelson Fest. & Fasts ii. ix. (1739) 582 As the Exhortation before the Communion suggests to us. 1848 Dickens Dombey v, The clergyman..delivering (very unaffectedly and simply) the closing exhortation. 1875 Stubbs Const. Hist. III. xviii. 28 The result of this exhortation was a long and..important session. |
3. attrib.
| 1872 Shipley Glossary 190 Exhortation Week, The week before Septuagesima Sunday; so called in the Eastern Church because the faithful are then exhorted to prepare for the Great Fast. Also called Exhortatory Week. |