visit and visitation etc.

[jiang]

Dear teachers,
I have two questions to ask:

No.1
His face went white at the unaccustomed visitation.
Can I replace 'visitation' with 'visit'? I can't see the difference between 'visit and visitation.

No.2
Every day he is either busy making money or busy being important.
Could you please explain the meaning of 'busy being important'?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you in advance.

Jiang

[fiona bramble]

Hi Jiang,
In my part of the world, "visitation" is often used as a formal or legal word, as in "The father got visitation rights when the parents divorced" (the court allows him to see his children sometimes). "Visitation" generally seems to be more of an event than an social "visit". In your sentence, it is hard to say what would sound more natural without a context.
"Busy being important" is meant as sarcasm or a joke here, I think. Obviously, "being important" isn't a job really, so the person speaking thinks the "he" in the sentence believes himself to be an important person or even "full of himself" (an idiom...do you know it?)


hmm...hope that wasn't confusing!

[jiang]

Dear fiona,
Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.
I can't find the idiom 'full of oneself' in my dictionary. Does it mean 'He only thinks of himself'?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

Hi Jiang,
In my part of the world, "visitation" is often used as a formal or legal word, as in "The father got visitation rights when the parents divorced" (the court allows him to see his children sometimes). "Visitation" generally seems to be more of an event than an social "visit". In your sentence, it is hard to say what would sound more natural without a context.
"Busy being important" is meant as sarcasm or a joke here, I think. Obviously, "being important" isn't a job really, so the person speaking thinks the "he" in the sentence believes himself to be an important person or even "full of himself" (an idiom...do you know it?)


hmm...hope that wasn't confusing!

[Casiopea]

From Allwords.com Definition of full of oneself,

full of oneself
Having too good an opinion of oneself and one's importance.



By the way, "visitation" has three meanings. I believe your example sentence expresses meaning #1:

Meaning #1: an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event
Synonyms: trial, tribulation

Meaning #2: any disaster or catastrophe


Meaning #3: an official visit for inspection or supervision

[fiona bramble]

My pleasure Jiang (& Casiopea has helped out with definitions, so thanks to her too!

[jiang]

Dear Cas,
Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.
Have a nice weekend.
Jiang

From Allwords.com Definition of full of oneself,

full of oneself
Having too good an opinion of oneself and one's importance.



By the way, "visitation" has three meanings. I believe your example sentence expresses meaning #1:

Meaning #1: an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event
Synonyms: trial, tribulation

Meaning #2: any disaster or catastrophe


Meaning #3: an official visit for inspection or supervision