▪ I. delation
(dɪˈleɪʃən)
Also 6–7 dilation.
[ad. L. dēlātiōn-em information, accusation, denunciation, n. of action from dēlāt-, ppl. stem of dēferre: see delate v.]
† 1. Conveyance (to a place), transmission. Obs.
| 1578 Banister Hist. Man i. 33 Holes in these bones for the delation of nourishment. 1626 Bacon Sylva §129 In Delation of Sounds, the Enclosure of them preserveth them, and causeth them to be heard further. Ibid. §149 A plain Dilation of the Sound, from the Teeth to the Instrument of hearing. Ibid. §209 It is certain that the Delation of Light is in an Instant. |
2. Handing down (to a new possessor), handing over, transference. Obs. (exc. in Rom. Law).
| 1681 Wharton Epochæ & æræ Wks. (1683) 47 The sole delation of the Empire, on Augustus Cæsar, became of happy consequence to the Spaniards. 1875 Poste Gaius ii. Comm. (ed. 2) 190 The only title required..was the overture or delation of the inheritance and vacancy of possession. |
3. An accusing or bringing a charge against, esp. on the part of an informer; informing against; accusation, denouncement, criminal information.
| 1578 Sc. Poems 16th C. II. 183 Priests, burne na ma, Of wrang delation ye may hyre..And let abjuring go. 1604 Shakes. Oth. iii. iii. 123 Such things..in a man that's iust, They're close dilations [so F. 1, Q. 2, 3; Q. 1 denotements] working from the heart, That Passion cannot rule. 1621 Reliq. Wotton. (1672) 307 Three Gentlemen..who receive all secret Delations on matter of practice against the Republick. a 1639 Spottiswood Hist. Ch. Scot. ii. (1677) 103 Upon some envious delations the King became jealous of him. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. Wks. V. 372 That court is to try criminals sent to it by the national assembly, or brought before it by other courses of delation. 1862 Merivale Rom. Emp. (1865) VII. lxii. 386 In criminal cases..the interference of a mere stranger was unauthorized delation. 1893 Dublin Rev. July 649 His [Abbé Dupin's] delation to the Archbishop of Paris by Bossuet. |
▪ II. delation
obs. var. of dilation, delay.