vacation

vacation, n.
  (vəˈkeɪʃən)
  Forms: 4–5 vacacioun, 5 vacacyone, -cione, -cyoun, wacacion(e, 5–6 vacacion (6 -cyon), 6 vacatione, 5– vacation.
  [a. OF. (also mod.F.) vacation (= It. vacazione, Sp. vacacion, Pg. vaca{cced}ão), or ad. L. vacātiōn-, vacātio (med.L. also vacācio), f. vacāre: see vacate v.]
  I. 1. a. Freedom, release, or rest from some occupation, business, or activity.

c 1386 Chaucer Wife's Prol. 684 Whan he hadde leyser and vacacioun From oother worldly occupacioun. 1531 Elyot Gov. i. ii, What vacacion had they from the warres? 1575 Laneham Let. (1871) 12 The forenoon occupied..in quiet and vacation from woork. 1621 R. Brathwait Nat. Embassie (1877) 156 Admit of no vacation, saue onely vacation from vice. 1690 R. Lucas Humane Life 245 The life of the sluggish is but a waking dream, a vacation from all business. 1865 W. G. Palgrave Arabia II. 165 Especially during the days of vacation from ordinary business.

  b. Without const. Freedom or respite from work, etc.; time of rest or leisure.

c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. v. iv. 777 Bot þai war til Sancte Petyr ay Helparis in his lattyr day, Qwhen he gaf his vacacion Al hail til his deuocion. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. John viii. 58 A secrete place, or some vacacion is conuenient for preachers of the gospell. 1570 T. Norton Nowel's Catech. (1853) 129 When, resting from worldly business.., and as it were having a certain holy vacation. 1610 Healey St. Aug. Citie of God xii. xvii. (1620) 435 His vacation is not idle, sloathfull nor sluggish. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. i. iv. 20 The Primitive Confessours were so taken up with what they endured, they had no vacation largely to relate their own or other Sufferings.

transf. 1639 Fuller Holy War ii. xii. (1840) 66 After the tempest of a long war,..king Baldwin had a five years vacation of peace in his old age.

  † c. Leisure for, or devoted to, some special purpose; hence, occupation, business. Obs.

c 1450 tr. De Imitatione iii. lviii. 135 Put þe vacacion of god [L. Dei vacationem] before all oþer þinges. 1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 45 Ther prencipal vacatione vas on the neuresing of bestialite. Ibid., Ther is na faculte, stait, nor vacatione..that can be conparit til oure stait. 1603 Florio Montaigne ii. xii. 308 She [Philosophy] ascribeth no other consultation [to the Gods], nor imputeth other vacation vnto them. 1627 W. Sclater Exp. 2 Thess. (1629) 2 Charity, which is the vtmost pretended aime of single life, and wilfull pouertie, whole Vacation to the Contemplation of the glorious Deitie. 1654 Hammond Fundam. xi. Wks. 1674 I. 298 The inestimable benefit of peace, and quiet and vacation for piety.

  † d. Absence from duty or from some usual post; also, a sum paid for absence or exemption.

1461–83 in Househ. Ord. (ed. 4) 32 Savynge the right of the countynghouse in chekking them for theire vacations or for lak of recordes. 1472–3 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 57/1 Sommes of money..abated of the fees..of any of the said Souldeours..for the vacations and absence oute of the said Toune. 1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus Q ij b, Parmenio his tongue was very fine and voluble to run ouer his masters whole life this time of vacation from his mistris. 1591 Savile Tacitus, Hist. i. lviii. 33 Vitellius..paies the vacations to the Centurions out of his cofers.

  2. a. A period during which there is a formal suspension of activity; one or other part of the year during which law-courts, universities, or schools are suspended or closed; holidays.

c 1456 Pecock Bk. of Faith (1909) 228 Hou myche labour is maad in ynnes of Court in Londoun, bi tymes of vacacioun, aboute the reding..of the Kingis Statutis. c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. xv. (1885) 148 How mony owres off the day this counsell shall sytt, when thai shall haue any vacasion. 1529 Sel. Cases Star Chamber (Selden) II. 36 We dyd apoynte them there to mete ageyne at the vacacion of Christmas last past. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. iii. ii. 349 [Time stays] With Lawiers in the vacation: for they sleepe betweene Terme and Terme. 1617 Moryson Itin. iii. 10, I judge Lawyers and Officers more happy, who have their Termes to live in the City, and their Vacations to returne into the Countrey. a 1668 Davenant Play-ho. to be Let. i. i, We are standing Properties of the Play-house, which, in Vacation, lye in pawn for the Rent. 1722 De Foe Plague (Rtldg.) 29 It being in the Time of the Vacation. 1771 Phil. Trans. LXI. 324 The young nobleman,..whom I accompanied to his seat from the university, during the Christmas-vacation. 1796 Burke Let. Noble Lord Wks. VIII. 35 Every honest father of a family..will pray that there may be a very long vacation in all such schools. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) V. 216 For no other reason, perhaps, but because the fine was levied in the vacation, and was dated as of the preceding term. 1829 Lytton Disowned vi, To this house Algernon was constantly consigned during his vacations from school. 1904 L. Creighton Life Bp. Creighton I. x. 308 In the Easter Vacation we went for a short walking tour in Norfolk.

transf. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iv. i. 242 Wherefore in the midst of the Term of his businesse he makes himself a vacation to speak with them. c 1656 Ussher Ann. (1658) 814 The King of Kings forbore his hunting and feasting of the Nobles, which is a Kinde of Vacation among the Parthians.

  b. long vacation (see long a.¹ 18).

a 1601 Sir T. Fanshawe Pract. Exch. (1658) 160 In every long vacation all the bills..and other pleadings are to be taken from the common files. 1631 T. Adams in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 150 The arabick Lecture..to be entred upon after that long vacation following. 1693 [see long a. 18]. 1706 Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) I. 215 In ye Long-Vacation [he] made an Excursion. 1825– [see long a. 18]. 1882 H. C. Merivale Faucit of B. v, When season, reading-party, and long vacation were all over,..much distressed was the Oxford world [etc.].

  c. A holiday. Chiefly U.S.

1878 Masque of Poets 177 At Saratoga, where you meet all grades of well-dressed people spending short vacations. 1888 A. K. Green (Mrs. Rohlfs) Behind Closed Doors vi, She went away for a short vacation a few days ago.

  d. attrib., as vacation-exercise, vacation-task, vacation-time, etc.

1628 Milton (title), At a Vacation Exercise in the Colledge. a 1668 Davenant Play-ho. to be Let Wks. (1673) 75 Good, Sir, no French translation till the Tearm; It is too precious for Vacation-ware. 1721 Amherst Terræ Fil. No. 47 (1726) 251 Every monday throughout the year, in vacation-time as well as in term-time. 1797 in Fowler Hist. C.C.C. (O.H.S.) 298 This Vacation exercise, the subject of which will be communicated to him at the usual time. 1828 Lytton Pelham II. xiii, It is now vacation time, and I have come to town with the idea of holding lectures on the state of education. 1844 Talfourd (title), Vacation Rambles and Thoughts. 1894 Ld. Coleridge in Life (1904) II. xii. 382, I am smitten once more with the fate of Vacation Judge. 1904 ‘M. Y. Halidom’ Weird Transform. x. 84 What with his walks and his vacation tasks, small danger was apprehended.

  3. † a. A state or period characterized by the intermission or absence of something. Obs.

1567 Allen Def. Priesth. Pref., In this pitifull vacation and long lacke of the practise of priesthoode. 1630 S. Lennard tr. Charron's Wisd. (1658) 31 Whereby followeth a kind of intermission and vacation of the actions. 1677 Temple Let. to Hyde Wks. 1720 II. 474 We have had since Monday last, a perfect Vacation of all Affairs. a 1711 Ken Preparatives Poet. Wks. 1721 IV. 115 Sleep's a Vacation of our Pow'rs, And innocently wastes our Hours.

  † b. A cessation from something.

1617 in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 184 This day is here Good Friday, and such a dead vacation from all kind of business, as I can now add little to this letter. c 1770 E. Carter Lett. (1808) 96 That dead vacation from all present hopes and fears that stupifies the retirement of a convent.

  c. A state or period of inactivity.

1644 Bulwer Chiron. 116 The inconvenience of this cold vacation in the Hand, gave being to that Axiome in Rhetorique [etc.]. 1660 Boyle New Exp. Phys. Mech. Pref. p. viii, The occasional vacations of the Press, by reason of Festivals, or the absence of the Corrector. 1862 Stanley Jew. Ch. (1877) I. iv. 75 The city was in a state of comparative desolation;..a vacation of centuries had passed over it.

  4. A time of freedom, release, or respite (from something).

1614 Raleigh Hist. World iii. xii. 125 The Mantinæans, finding the war to be carried from their wals,..would use the commodity of that vacation. 1639 Fuller Holy War i. vi, The longest vacation from persecution they enjoyed was when Charles was Emperor of the West. 1670 Cotton Espernon i. iv. 189 Giving himself a vacation from the hardships of War. 1714 R. Fiddes Pract. Disc. ii. 100 Such times should be vacations from the common business and affairs of human life. 1748 tr. Vegetius Renatus 244 Let..a Vacation from Labour be given him.

  II. † 5. a. The fact of an office or post becoming or being vacant; the time during which the vacancy lasts. Obs.
  Chiefly in ecclesiastical use: see (a).

(a) c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. viii. xxxiii. 5897 In til a wacacione Þai walde noucht mak electione Twys. 1454 Rolls of Parlt. V. 247/1 Of all..voidaunce of Bisshopriches, Abbeys and Prioryes, tyme of vacation [etc.]. 1533–4 Act 25 Hen. VIII, c. 21 §16 All..licences..shall (during the vacation of the same see) be..graunted vnder the name and seale of the gardiane of the spiritualities. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 366 b, Bishopprickes aboute lxxxxvi, by the vacations whereof, as they terme it, is caried to Rome a wonderful some of gold. 1602 Segar Hon. Mil. & Civ. iv. xxiv. 244 If it fall out that the Archbishop of Canterburie be not there, by the vacation of his See, then the Archbishop of Yorke is to take his place. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. ix. 71 Certain lands assumed by the Queen from some Bishopricks during their vacation. 1709 Strype Ann. Ref. I. vi. 98 All arrearages of subsidies and tenths past in the days of their predecessors, and in times of vacation.

(b) 1542 Hen. VIII Decl. War Scots D ij, All castels & holdes were surrendred to him as to the superior lord in the tyme of vacation. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 16 That he shall ratifie that which was done in the vacation of thempire, by the countie Palatine. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World ii. xxii. 475 But we are now arrived at a meere vacation, wherein the Crown of Juda lay voyd eleven whole yeares. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii. 89 This commonly they practise in euery such like vacation, which otherwise, they durst neuer attempt.

  † b. A vacant post; a vacancy. Obs.

1535 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) I. 398, I hertely desyre & pray you..to graunt vnto the said Robert the next vacacion of one of the iiii Clarkes of that your courte.

  † 6. The fact of a house being unoccupied or untenanted; loss of rent due to this. Obs.

1479–81 Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905) 96 Vacacions. In primys, syr Rafis chambyr, voyde by ij quarters, the quarter at ij s iij d. Ibid. 192 Item, ffor the wacacion of the howse that Wylliam Raynsford dwellyd in, for iij quarters, xx s.

  † 7. Empty space; vacuity. Obs.^—1

1743 Lond. & Country Brew. iii. (ed. 2) 211, I am of Opinion nothing less than four or five Feet high Vacation ought to be allowed..in order to break the Force of such an Ebullition, by thus giving it Room enough to expand.

  III. † 8. The action of voiding or evacuating.

1607 Markham Cavel. vii. (1617) 33 From fulnes, as from surfeit of meate or drink, or the want of vacation of humors.

  9. The action of vacating, of leaving (or being left) vacant or unoccupied.

1860 Players 14 Apr. 121 Since Mr Kean's vacation of the Princess's, Miss Murray has joined the present company at the St. James's Theatre. 1876 Clark Russell Is he the Man? II. 2 The servants were ignorant of the true reason of old Mrs. Ransome's sudden vacation of the house. 1884 Manch. Exam. 29 May 5/2 The Viceroyalty of India..will then be on the point of vacation by the Marquis of Ripon. 1892 Sat. Rev. 22 Oct. 465/1 Seats chosen for vacation by the Gladstonians themselves.

  IV. 10. Comb., as vacation home U.S., a house used by the owner for holidays or at weekends (cf. holiday home (b) s.v. holiday n. 4 a); vacation job, paid employment for a student during vacation from a university, polytechnic, etc.; vacation-land U.S., an area attracting holiday-makers.

1969 ‘E. Lathen’ When in Greece xiii. 146 The whole area is honeycombed with vacation homes. 1978 D. Williams Treasure up in Smoke iv. 40 A big-spending visitor who maintained a vacation home.

1971 Guardian 23 July 6/7, 24,400 students registered for vacation jobs. 1977 D. James Spy at Evening x. 68, I had..managed to get a vacation job as reserve stoker in a block of flats.

1927 Scribner's Mag. Apr. 100 The glories of Yellowstone Park take on new meaning this year with our discovery of Gallatin Gateway! It is the great sensation of vacation⁓land. 1977 Chicago Tribune 2 Oct. iv. 18/1 The region is a vacationland of great variety. There are spas, county fairs, antiques and crafts shows, [etc.].

  Hence vaˈcation v. intr., to take a vacation or holiday; vaˈcationing ppl. a. and vbl. n. (U.S.); vaˈcationer, (a) orig. U.S., a holiday-maker; (b) a vacation-student; vaˈcationist, = prec. (a); vaˈcationless a., having no vacation or holidays.

1896 Advance (Chicago) 27 Aug. 273 Despite hard times, people will go *vacationing.

1890 Advance (Chicago) 28 Aug., The ‘swallows homeward fly’; and so, by sea and land, do *vacationers and tourists. 1898 Atlantic Monthly LXXXII. 491/1 It did my vacationer's heart good to see men so cheerfully industrious. 1904 Middle Temple Rec., Min. Parlt. I. 389 The following vacationers are fined 20s. each for absence from Mr. Daston's reading.

1961 Times 28 Nov. 13/7 The organized and the individual vacationers. 1967 Idle Moments (Austral.) Sept. 27/3 The vacationer's body also will have reduced metabolic needs which may take two or three weeks for adjustment.

1926 Scribner's Mag. Aug. 7/2 Advice to *vacationing young folks: In the dog days, don't be too Sirius.

1976 National Observer (U.S.) 24 Jan. 8/2 (Advt.), Off-the-Beaten Path names the really low cost Florida retirement and vacationing towns. 1978 Detroit Free Press 16 Apr. (Parade Suppl.) 13/1 Increasingly, vacationing Americans are taking to the woods, mountains, deserts and seashores.

1885 Field 18 Apr. 511 The *vacationist in quest of bracing air..will find in Tyrol many places to suit him. 1892 Ibid. 2 July 25/2 Rivers..attractive to the summer vacationist.

1891 Advance (Chicago) 25 June, I dislike to go away leaving people *vacationless who deserve an outing more than I do.

Oxford English Dictionary