▪ I. refection, n.
(rɪˈfɛkʃən)
Forms: 5 refeccioun(e, reffecio(u)n, refectioun (-tyon), 5–6 refeccion (-cyon), 4– refection, (6 -e).
[a. F. réfection (12th c. in Littré), ad. L. refectiōn-em, n. of action f. reficĕre: see prec.]
1. a. Recreation or refreshment received through some spiritual or intellectual influence. (Freq. transf. from 2 or 3.)
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter lix. 8 Moab, þat is, ill men, that tourments me, are potte, þat is refection of my hope. 1413 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) v. iii. 94 The vision of the good lord, that is al their ioye, theyr reste, and their refection. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 87 He..hathe ordeyned vs to haue hymselfe to our endeles refeccyon in blysse. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xi. (Percy Soc.) 37 To the artyke eres swete and dylycious The golden rethoryke is good refeccion. 1581 Marbeck Bk. of Notes 109 The comfort of Gods spirite shoulde coole it to his euerlasting refection. 1630 R. Brathwait Eng. Gentlem. (1641) 4 The only sight of God is the true food and refection of our minds. 1717 L. Howel Desiderius (ed. 3) 170 It is the true and solid Refection of the holy Mind. 1858 Neale Bernard de M. (1864) 30 O sacred, sweet refection. |
b. Refreshment or relief due to some sensuous or physical cause. Now rare or Obs.
| 1450–80 tr. Secreta Secret. 24 Whan the spirit hath take refeccioun in good odoures. 1567 J. Maplet Gr. Forest 20 There is no greater refection to the eies than the sight of this. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 40 At night I cast vp much choler, after the eiection whereof, I felt such a refection [etc.]. 1725 Pope Odyss. vi. 261 Since this worn frame refection knew, What scenes have I survey'd of dreadful view? |
2. a. The action of refreshing or partaking of refreshment: the fact of being refreshed, or of refreshing oneself, with food or drink after hunger or fatigue. Also, an instance or case of this.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P. R. ix. xxxi. (Bodl. MS.), Ester daie is a tyme..of ioiful refeccion and fedinge. c 1450 tr. De Imitatione i. xviii. 20 For gret swetnes of contemplacion som tyme was foryeten þe necessite of bodely refeccion. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour M iv, She..toke only for her refection brede and water. 1579 Fulke Heskins' Parl. 109 Melchizedech..for refection as well of him, as of his warriours, brought forth breade and wine. 1615 Crooke Body of Man 121 From these veines come those sodaine refections of the spirits by sweete and strong Wine, Broths, and Cordials. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 196 After a draught of wine a man may seeme lighter in himselfe from sudden refection, although he be heavier in the balance. 1720 Pope Iliad xxiv. 754 Now the peaceful hours of sacred night Demand refection, and to rest invite. 1820 Scott Monast. xvi, Sorrow it were..if we were now either to advance or retard the hour of refection. 1872 R. F. Burton Zanzibar I. 150 The cocoa-nut, manioc, and broiled fish, offered by squatting negresses for their refection. |
† b. In phr. to take (one's) refection. Obs.
| c 1440 Cast. Persev. (E.E.T.S.) 1828 In abstinens lede þi lyf! take but skylful refeccyon. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour D viij b, After they had taken their refection and wel dronken. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 823 He was so diseased in his stomacke that skant he could take eyther refection or rest. 1600 Hakluyt Voy. (1810) III. 375 They would rather haue perished with hunger and thirst, then haue taken their refection at any mans hand but mine. 1634 Malory's Arthur (1816) II. 276 When he was armed, she prayed him for to take his refection. |
| Comb. 1489 Caxton Faytes of A. ii. xxxvii. 158 Yf they may knowe that theyre aduersaryes be not upon theyre warde or that they be at theyre refeccyon taking. |
c. Entertainment with food and drink; the right of demanding, or duty of supplying, such entertainment. Now only Hist.
| 1601 Holland Pliny I. 240 They deserued a better reward than one daies refection and victuals. 1635 Quarles Embl. v. vi. 5 Without thy presence Earth gives no refection, Without thy presence Sea affords no treasure. 1689 R. Cox Hist. Irel. i. Expl. Index, Refection, is a priviledge the Lord has of claiming Entertainment for one Meal, and no more. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl. s.v., Refection is also used, in antient authors, for a duty or service incumbent on any person to provide meals, for ecclesiastics, or even for princes. 1875 Maine Hist. Inst. vi. 161 This ‘right of refection’ and liability to it are among the most distinctive features of ancient Irish custom. |
d. The eating of fæcal pellets, practised by rabbits and some other animals.
| 1939 Nature 10 June 982/1 The pellets frequently constitute more than one third of the stomach contents [of the rabbit] and refection to such a degree seemed too improbable. 1952 L. H. Matthews Brit. Mammals vi. 136 In 1939 the habit of ‘refection’ was rediscovered in the rabbit. 1964 R. M. Lockley Private life of Rabbit x. 102 Many animals, including insects as well as hares and rabbits, have this habit of refection. 1973 Bk. Brit. Countryside (Automobile Assoc.) 367/2 Feeding is by refection, a similar method to chewing the cud. Food is eaten then excreted in semi-digested form as soft moist pellets. These are eaten again and passed through the intestines to be fully digested. |
3. a. An occasion of partaking of food; a meal.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) VI. 43 Herynge that Cristen men usede diversites of meytes at oon refeccion. 1542 Boorde Dyetary xii. (1870) 265 Eatynge of moche butter at one refection is not commendable. 1617 Moryson Itin. i. 94 After this refection we went the rest of our iourney through pleasant fields. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. ix. iv. §2 At a publick refection of those Ministers together..the next time of their meeting was appointed. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. x. (1858) II. 435 One of the brethren, at every refection, was to read aloud a chapter of the Old or New Testament. |
b. A portion of food or drink; a meal or repast, esp. a slight one.
| 1482 Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 27 With a ful litil refeccion ther of he brake his faste. 1531 Elyot Gov. iii. xxi, A man..shall in the mornyng..with a litle refection,..haue his inuencion quicker, his iugement perfecter, his tonge rediar. 1542 Boorde Dyetary ix. (1870) 252 The last refeccyon or meale wyll let the dygestyon of the fyrste. 1625 K. Long tr. Barclay's Argenis ii. xx. 130 With these words, the Herald was led aside to take a short refection. 1664 H. More Myst. Iniq. xviii. 69 Birds..that ever smel out a comfortable refection from the fall of every such Carcass. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl., Refection, among monks and ecclesiastics, a spare meal or repast, just sufficing for the support of life. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) VIII. xvi. 88 Though our little refection was just brought in. 1856 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. II. 295 A miserable refection of weak tea and tough toast. 1870 Disraeli Lothair l, The cheerful fire, the judicious refection on a side table. |
† c. A particular form of food or refreshment.
| 1502 Ord. Crysten Men i. iii. (W. de W. 1506) C iiij b, In tastynge this fyrst refeccion of salte. 1625 Ussher Answ. Jesuit 54 The sonnes which he begat..he nourisheth with a peculiar refection and food, and meat and drink. |
4. † a. Resetting of a dislocation. Obs. rare.
| 1646 T. Whitaker Uzziah 40 Till..it..gangrene, and then after far greater pain, no hope of cure but by refection. |
b. Repair, restoration. rare.
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., Refection,..a repairing or mending a thing that is worn and decayed. 1684 tr. Bonet's Merc. Compit. xviii. 659 When Patients stand in need of refection of their strength. 1845–56 Bouvier Law Dict., Refection, reparation, reëstablishment of a building. |
5. attrib., as Refection Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent, Refreshment Sunday.
| 1872 Shipley Gloss. Eccl. Terms. |
▪ II. † reˈfection, v. Obs.
Also refeccion, etc.
[ad. F. réfectionner (15th c. in Godef.), f. réfection: see prec.]
trans. To refresh, furnish with a refection.
| a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 97 In the whiche arke was manna where with the children of israel were refeccioned. 1502 Ord. Crysten Men i. iv. (W. de W. 1506) D ij b, The baptem refeccyoneth the soule and kepeth it..from deth. 1550 Veron Godly Sayings (1846) 62 Thou art so refectyoned, that thou canste not lacke, whereof to be refectioned. 1629 Wadsworth Pilgr. iii. 11 After they had been well refectioned by the Rector, thay tooke their leaue. |