DictionaryvisitationSupernatural affliction
noun

visitation

An affliction believed to be sent by a supernatural power.

The villagers regard the plague as a visitation from God.

Etymology

A divine visit could be understood as intervention bringing judgment. Visitation therefore came to name an affliction attributed to supernatural agency.

More examples

  • Some farmers fear the drought is a divine visitation.
  • The old sermon describes disease as a visitation for human sins.
  • They believe these visitations reveal the anger of the gods.

Forms

visitation · visitations

Similar words

curse
Attributes misfortune to a hostile supernatural act or wish.
scourge
Emphasizes severe suffering without necessarily implying a supernatural cause.