annunciation
(əˌnʌnsɪˈeɪʃən)
Also 5 -cion(e, -cioun, 6 annuntiation, annoncyacyon.
[a. Fr. annonciation, ad. L. annuntiātiōn-em, n. of action f. annuntiā-re: see announce and -tion.]
The specific senses 2, 3, were the earlier in Eng.
1. The action of announcing, of proclaiming or declaring publicly or officially; the matter so announced, announcement.
| 1563 Homilies ii. xv. i. (1859) 442 The memory of Christ, the Annunciation of his death. 1678 Barclay Apol. Quakers v. vi. 118 The Preaching of Christ..truly termed the Gospel, or an Annunciation of Glad-Tidings to all. 1775 Toplady Wks. (1828) VI. 269 The annunciation of dinner occasioned a truce to debate. 1827 De Quincey Murder Wks. (1862) IV. 60 The annunciation of some gigantic calamity. |
2. esp. The intimation of the incarnation, made by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary.
| c 1440 Gesta Rom. i. lxvi. 243 The blesside Virgine, that conceivide by the annunciatione of the angille. a 1555 Latimer in Foxe A. & M. III. 387 The Angel was sent to greet our Lady, and to annunciate and shew the good will of God towards her, and therefore it is called The Annunciation of our Lady. 1704 Nelson Fest. & Fasts xiv. (1739) 165 The Annunciation of the blessed Virgin, which the Church this Day celebrates. 1851 Ruskin Mod. Paint. II. iii. ii. iii. §17 No subject has been more frequently treated by the religious painters than that of the Annunciation. |
3. The church festival commemorating that event, observed on the 25th of March; Lady-day.
| c 1400 Epiph. (Turnb. 1843) 80 Thre masses of Crystes nativite..And thre of the annunciacion. 1479 Caxton Cordyale Finis, Fiinisshed on the euen of thannunciacion of our said blissid Lady. 1537 Bury Wills (1850) 130 Ow{supr} Ladys daye the Annoncyacyon. a 1667 Jer. Taylor (J.) Upon the day of the annunciation, or Lady-day, meditate on the incarnation of our blessed Saviour. 1863 R. Chambers Bk. Days 417/2 Among the sermons of St. Augustine..are two regarding the festival of the Annunciation. |
4. attrib.: Annunciation lily, a Madonna lily such as is depicted in pictures of the Annunciation.
| 1877 Lady Wood Sheen's Foreman I. 234 Clusters of annunciation lilies. 1899 Daily News 4 Feb. 6/3 The dress is white velvet, embroidered straight up the front with long sprays of Annunciation lilies. 1907 Daily Chron. 2 May 4/5 The large drawing room,..decorated with tall Annunciation lilies..and exquisite roses. |