acceptation
(ˌæksɪpˈteɪʃən)
[a. Fr. acceptation (14th c. in Littré) ad. late L. acceptātiōn-em, n. of action f. acceptāre; see accept.]
† 1. gen. The action of taking, or receiving, what is offered, whether by way of favour, satisfaction, or duty; reception; = acceptance 1. Obs.
| 1426 Past. Lett. 7 I. 25 By this acceptacion of this bysshopricke, he hath pryved hym self of the title that he claymed. 1528 Gardiner in Pocock Rec. Ref. I. li. 133 Temper it so as might further the acceptation of this Commission. 1635 J. Hayward Banish'd Virg. 219 Upon acceptation of this last courteous proffer, they mount up. 1692 Bentley Boyle Lect. ix. 326 Without his Satisfaction there is no Remission of Sins nor Acceptation of Repentance. |
2. esp. Favourable reception; = acceptance 2, which is now in this sense the usual word. † a. Of persons. Obs.
| 1567 Trial of Treasure (1850) 5 Though the style be barbarous..our author desireth your gentle acceptation. 1658 Wh. Duty of Man iii. xii. 31 You cannot deceive God, nor gain acceptation from him by anything which is not perfectly hearty and unfeigned. |
b. Of things: Favourable reception, approval; hence, assent, acquiescence, belief.
| 1611 Bible 1 Tim. i. 15 This is a faithfull saying, and worthy of all acceptation. 1651 Hobbes Leviathan i. xiv. 69 Without mutuall acceptation, there is no Covenant. 1803 M. Edgeworth Manufact. (1831) i. 73 Their cards of acceptation were shewn in triumph. 1855 H. Reed Lect. Eng. Lit. (1878) x. 318 What else can explain the large acceptation, which a poem like ‘Gray's Elegy’ found at once? 1881 J. A. Brown in Nature XXIII. 559 That hypothesis will have a better claim to acceptation. |
† c. acceptation of persons: = acception 2. Obs.
| 1565 Jewel Repl. to Harding (1611) 387 God..hath no acceptation, or choice of persons. |
3. The state of being accepted or acceptable; acceptableness, regard. arch. = acceptance 3.
| 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. ii. (T.) Some things..are notwithstanding of so great dignity and acceptation with God. 1642 Rogers Naaman 110 Elbow roome in the world, acceptation with our betters. c 1800 Kirke White Lett. (1837) 248 Not only to secure your own acceptation. |
4. The sense in which a word or sentence is accepted or received; the received meaning.
| 1614 Raleigh Hist. World ii. 243 Which Nationall Law, according to divers acceptations..may be sometime taken for a Species of the Naturall, sometime of the Humane. 1690 Locke Hum. Underst. (1695) iv. i. 302 It is necessary first, to consider the different acceptations of the word Knowledge. a 1754 Fielding Remedy of Affl. Wks. 1775 IX. 254 In its common and vulgar acceptation it [Philosophy] signifies, the search after Wisdom. 1830 Gen. P. Thompson Exerc. (1842) I. 286 War, in the acceptation of modern publicists, is self-defence against reform. |
† 5. Acceptation of a bill of exchange = acceptance 6. Obs.
| 1622 G. Malynes Anc. Law-Merch. 400 [He] doth come to him vpon whom the said Bill was directed, and desireth his promise of acceptation. |