Also 6 vastacion. [ad. L. vastātiōn-, vastātio, n. of action f. vastāre, f. vastus waste. So It. vastazione, Pg. vastação.]
† 1. The action of laying waste, devastating or destroying. Also freq., an instance of this. Obs. (very common 1610–60).
1545. Joye, Exp. Dan. vii. 120 b. Howe greate vastacions and destruccions in the chirche are there prophecied!
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, V. i. § 1. The Greekes … doe still, as in former times, continue the inuasion and vastation of each other.
a. 1639. Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scot., III. (1677), 175. Thereupon insued a pitiful vastation of Churches and Church-buildings.
1663. J. Spencer, Prodigies (1665), 383. No war, no sedition,… no vastation,… made so great a waste upon the religion … of that place.
† 2. The fact or condition of being devastated or laid waste. Obs.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, V. 64. The whole masse of man … must needes haue runne in perpetuall ruine, and vastation.
1617. Collins, Def. Bp. Ely, II. x. 458. We lament their desolation and vastation.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, II. xxiv. (1840), 162. The sad spectacle of their country’s vastation would disturb their minds.
1653. Gauden, Hierasp., To Rdr. 24. It may be through the Lords mercy, this winters floud shall be for their mendment or fertility, and not for their utter vastation and ruine.
3. The action of purifying by the destruction of evil qualities or elements. Also transf.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Swedenborg, Wks. (Bohn), I. 328. He was let down through a column that seemed of brass,… that he might descend safely among the unhappy, and witness the vastation of souls.
1888. J. Ellis, New Christianity, xii. 290. Spirits preparing for heaven, or undergoing vastation.
1892. [see VASTATE v.].
