[a. med.L. volitātiōn-, volitātio (Diefenb.), noun of action f. L. volitāre: see prec.] Flying, flight.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., IV. i. 180. Birds or flying animals … are almost erect, advancing the head and breast in their progression, and onely prone in the act of their volitation.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Volitation, a flying or fluttering about, or up and down.
1864. Soc. Sci. Rev., I. 382. The practical means of Volitation are to be sought for in the same mechanical means as those by which Birds fly.
1895. S. R. Hole, Tour Amer., 193. The young rook … exercises in brief migrations … his powers of volitation.
transf. 1823. Blackw. Mag., XIII. 175. The additional volitation acquired by such a stumble is rather apt to make you run your head plump against the next person.
