visitant

[ viz-i-tuhnt ]

noun

1. a temporary resident; visitor; guest.
2. a visitor to a place of religious or sight-seeing interest; pilgrim.
3. a being believed to come from the spirit world:

   a ghostly visitant.

4. something, as a mood, feeling, emotion, etc., that overtakes a person from time to time:

   Melancholy is an occasional visitant to all.

5. a migratory bird that has come to a place temporarily.

adjective

1. visiting; paying a visit.

visitant

/ ˈvɪzɪtənt /

noun

1. a supernatural being; ghost; apparition
2. a visitor or guest, usually from far away
3. a pilgrim or tourist
4. Also calledvisitor a migratory bird that is present in a particular region only at certain times

   a summer visitant

adjective

1. archaic.
   paying a visit; visiting

Word History and Origins

Origin of visitant¹

First recorded in 1590–1600, visitant is from the Latin word vīsitant- (stem of vīsitāns ). See visit, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of visitant¹

C16: from Latin vīsitāns going to see, from vīsitāre; see visit

Synonym Study

See visitor.

Example Sentences

Though generally a winter visitant, I have seen occasional stragglers in summer.

From Project Gutenberg

He lodged 30 years in one gloomy apartment, which was never lighted up with coal, candle, or the countenance of a visitant.

From Project Gutenberg

The Common Tern is a regular but not numerous spring and autumn visitant to the Islands, some remaining to breed.

From Project Gutenberg

To the boys imagination, the new-comer seemed a visitant from a fairy world.

From Project Gutenberg

He instantly detected the diabolical quality of his visitant, and was prepared.

From Project Gutenberg