Visit (n)

1. a. An act of visiting a person; a friendly or formal call upon, a shorter or longer stay with, a person as a feature of social intercourse.

1681 VISCOUNTESS CAMPDEN in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. V. 56 My Lady Skidmore and her lord was at Mr. Conisbys house upon a visette. 1711 ADDISON Spect. No. 102 {page}8 Like Ladies that look upon their Watches after a long Visit. 1753 Scots Mag. XV. 36/1 Guilty of that most atrocious crime, the owing a visit. 1774 GOLDSM. Nat. Hist. (1776) V. 246 If the monkey ventures to offer a visit of curiosity, the toucan gives him such a welcome, that he..is glad to escape.

2. a. An instance of going to see, and assist or comfort, persons in distress.

1792 [R. CECIL] (title), A Friendly Visit to the House of Mourning.

b. An instance (or the action) of going to a place, house, etc., for the purpose of inspection or examination.

1787 BURNS Let. to M. Chalmers Wks. (Globe) 352, I have been at Dumfries, and at one visit more shall be decided about a farm in that country.

5. attrib. and Comb., as visit-day, -paying; {dag}visit-leg, a posture of politeness in paying a visit (cf. LEG n. 4).

1849 THACKERAY in Scribner's Mag. I. 522/2, I have been most remiss in visit-paying.