Forms: 5–7 vocacion, 5 -cioun, 5–6 -cyon, -tioun, 6 wocatioun, 6– vocation. [a. OF. vocacion, -ation (F. vocation, = Sp. vocacion, Pg. vocação, It. vocazione), or ad. L. vocātiōn-, vocātio, noun of action f. vocāre to call, summon.]
1. The action on the part of God of calling a person to exercise some special function, especially of a spiritual nature, or to fill a certain position; divine influence or guidance towards a definite (esp. religious) career; the fact of being so called or directed towards a special work in life; natural tendency to, or fitness for, such work.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 10808. Thapostles … By choys & by elleccioun And also by vocacioun,… kam to hym.
1526. Tindale, 1 Cor. i. 1. Paul by vocacion the Apostle of Jesus Christ thorowe the will of god.
1528. Roy, Rede me (Arb.), 107. Of Saynt Thomas of Cantourbury … I beleve and … trust yf that he were … of oure lordes vocacion [etc.].
1649. F. Roberts, Clavis Bibl., 92. His Vocation or calling by God to be Governour of Israel in Moses stead, is repeated.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 128. A Cordelier,… being at Goa, moved with a pious vocation, went to preach the Gospel in these parts.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., ’Tis a Rule, that none are to enter the Ecclesiastick or Monastick State, without a particular Vocation, or Call.
1753. Diary Blue Nuns, in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., VIII. 126. Peggy Johnson [a postulant] left our house haveing no vocation.
1840. Carlyle, Heroes, iv. (1904), 117. Luther and Knox were by express vocation Priests, and did faithfully perform that function in its common sense.
1852. Ld. Cockburn, Jeffrey, I. 353. I wish I had more of the inward vocation to the holy office.
1888. Bernard, Fr. World to Cloister, i. 5. You see, it is a question of vocation—where I am called there must I go.
b. The action on the part of God (or Christ) of calling persons or mankind to a state of salvation or union with Himself; the fact or condition of being so called. (Cf. CALLING vbl. sb. 9.)
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), IV. v. P vj. As the deuyll blyndeth the synner, so he hym maketh to lose the herynge of the vocacyon that our lorde vnto hym maketh.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 262 b. That vnspekable mercy that thou shewed in theyr vocacyon or callynge.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., III. 306. As by vocation and election God maketh his elect.
1609. Bible (Douay), Amos, comm. Foreshewing … the vocation of al Nations to Christ.
1646. E. F[isher], Marrow Mod. Divin. (ed. 2), 186. Therefore sayth he you must not look for sanctification, till you come to Christ in vocation.
1672. Disc. Evangelical Love, 33. There is Vocation, or an effectual Calling to the knowledg of Christ by the Gospel.
a. 1771. J. Gill, Expos. O. T., Ps. cxiv. 1 (1810), IV. 192/1. An emblem of the Lord’s people in effectual vocation, coming out of bondage into liberty.
1826. G. S. Faber, Diffic. Romanism (1853), 262. He calls with a saving and beatifying vocation.
1898. C. Bell, trans. Huysman’s Cathedral, xi. 233. The vocation of the Jewish nation is set forth in these three doorways.
c. Vocation of the Gentiles (cf. Acts x. 45, etc.).
So F. la vocation des Gentils (Calvin).
1649. F. Roberts, Clavis Bibl., 611. Vocation of the Gentiles, and many spirituall Priviledges of the Church.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 129. They pitch on Twelf-day, as that on which sometime happened the vocation of the Gentiles.
2. The particular function or station to which a person is called by God; a mode of life or sphere of action regarded as so determined. (Cf. CALLING vbl. sb. 10.)
1487. Caxton, Bk. Good Manners, d vi b (Stanf.). The pryncipal of theyr vocacyon is for to defende the fayth.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), I. iv. D iiij. Yf they [sc. kings] gouerne truely the realme of theyr conscyence and the estate of theyr vocacyon.
1545. Brinklow, Compl., iii. 15. He wil gyue grace to the kyng, to walke in his vocacyon.
1565. Stapleton, Fortr. Faith, 129. Gregory Naziansen leaving the bishoprick of Constantinople, much … serche was made to finde a worthy man to occupy that high vocation.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., IV. ix. 281. Heaven is his vocation, and therefore he counts earthly employments avocations.
a. 1792. V. Knox, Serm., xxiii. 507. Let us go forth to our various employments, resolved to walk worthy of our Christian vocation.
1847. C. Brontë, Jane Eyre, xxii. ‘I shall probably take the veil.’… ‘The vocation will fit you to a hair,’ I thought.
1888. Liddon, in Chr. World Pulpit, XXXIV. 388. In some quarters, the missionary’s life … is regarded as a profession rather than as a vocation.
b. One’s ordinary occupation, business or profession. (Cf. CALLING vbl. sb. 11.)
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 95 b. By vocation of life a souldiour is counted a great bragger, and a vaunter of hymselfe.
1566. Painter, Pal. Pleas., I. Ded. 5. The same hath … commended suche unto her highnes … as officers right worthy their vocations.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. ii. 114. Why, Hal, ’tis my Vocation Hal: ’Tis no sin for a man to labour in his Vocation.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, 13. If there bee any in our vocation or calling, that liue disorderly and out of compasse, what trade can you name that doe not the like.
1622. Peacham, Compl. Gentl., i. 12. Vsefull necessaries for our vocations, and callings.
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 118. I cannot but be sorry that he hath undertaken this desperate vocation.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 304, ¶ 3. Your Petitioner’s Ancestor … was the first of that Vocation in Britain; who … was by way of Eminency called the Stationer.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), II. 242. It is idle to write a panegyric on the greatest man in any vocation.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., II. 356. In addition to his other vocations, he was the singing-master of the neighbourhood.
1871. Ainsworth, Tower Hill, I. i. A droll-looking wight, whose vocation was proclaimed by his motley garb.
1879. St. George’s Hosp. Rep., IX. 554. The vocations of the women … expose them to sudden changes of temperature.
c. collect. Those who follow a particular business or profession.
1587. Harrison, England, II. v. (1877), I. 132. Euerie function and seuerall vocation striueth with other.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xxix. (Arb.), 289. It is comely that euery estate and vocation should be knowen by the differences of their habit.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxvi. 137. Some Lawes are addressed … to particular Provinces; some to particular Vocations; and some to particular Men.
3. A call to a public position.
1553. Q. Mary, in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), III. App. vi. 10. Speciallye synce the tyme of her vocation to the crowne.
b. The action, on the part of an ecclesiastical body, of calling a person to the ministry or to a particular office or charge in the Church. (Cf. CALLING vbl. sb. 3 b.)
1578. 2nd Bk. Discipline, iii. Vocatioun or calling … is ane lauchfull way, be the quhilk qualifeit personis is promotit to ane spirituall office within the kirk of God.
1588. Udall, Demonstr. Discipl. (Arb.), 67. The gouernors of the Church may not meddle, but onely in church-matters, as for example, vocation, and abdication.
1637. Gillespie, Eng. Pop. Cerem., III. viii. 195. As the vocation of Ministers pertaineth to the whole Church, so to the same also pertaineth the removing of Ministers.
1847. trans. Bunsen’s Ch. of Future, v. 116. Here the natural and historical form, that of call (or vocation) meets us at once. It is recognised as belonging to the congregation.
1860. Hook, Lives Abps., I. i. 2. A vocation to pastoral duty in the manufacturing districts demanded … his energies for five and thirty years.
† 4. ? Designation, title. Obs.–1
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 116. Knowest not thou wel that euery man of noble name or vocacion is holden & bounden to paye and holde his promesse.
† 5. The action of summoning an assembly or its members. Obs. rare.
c. 1480. Henryson, Test. Cress., 272. Befoir Cupide … [he] Speiris the caus of that vocatioun.
1772. Hartford Merc., Suppl. 18 Sept., 1/1. The letters of vocation for the new Senators appointed by the King of Sweden.
† 6. Appeal, entreaty, petition. Obs. rare.
1574. in Maitl. Cl. Misc. (1840), I. 98. That ane publict humiliatioun and fast, togidder with an ernest vocatioun and prayar, be institutit.
1587. M. Grove, Pelops & Hipp. (1878), 18. Some on Venus, some to Luna make their vocation.
