Also 2–3 collatiun, 4 colasioun, 4–5 col(l)acioun, collacion, -yon, 5 colacion, 5–7 -tion, 6 collasion, -yon. [a. OF. collation, -cion action of conferring, etc., ad. L. collātiōn-em, n. of action f. collāt- ppl. stem of confer-re to bring together: see CONFER, and -ATION. This word has had many developments of meaning in med. Latin, French, and English; with us, it appears first as an ecclesiastical term, in sense 6.
(In mod.F. collation is used in senses 3, 4; 8, 9; 10, 11. According to Littré in senses 8, 9, it is pronounced with one l only, whereas in the other senses both l’s are heard; consequently he treats collation the repast as a distinct word (so far as modern use is concerned) from the other senses. In English, 8 and 9 are closely articulated to other senses.)]
I. Bringing together, comparison.
† 1. A bringing together or collection, esp. of money; a contribution. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Rom. xv. 26. To make sum collacioun [Vulg. collationem], or gedrynge of moneye.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Symbolum, a shotte: a collation.
1600. Holland, Livy, V. xxv. 196. The collation and gathering of a small donative.
1725. trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist. 17th C., I. v. 67. They publish’d also in Sermons the Collations, that is, the Alms which they commonly collected every Sunday for the Poor.
b. Roman and Scotch Law. The throwing together of the possessions of several persons, in order to an equal division of the whole stock; hotch-pot; L. collatio bonorum.
1828. Webster, Collation 5 In Scots law, the right which an heir has of throwing the whole heritable and movable estates of the deceased into one mass, and sharing it equally with others who are of the same degree of kindred.
1886. J. Muirhead, Encycl. Brit., XX. 714. The application of the principle of collation to descendants generally, so that they were bound to throw into the mass of the succession before its partition every advance they had received from their parent in anticipation of their shares.
c. Collation of seals (see quot.).
1708–15. Kersey, Collation of Seals (in ancient Deeds), when one Seal was set on the Back of another, upon the same Ribbon, or Label.
So 1721. in Bailey.
1848. in Wharton.
2. The action of bringing together and comparing; comparison.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., IV. iv. 125. Ellys he mot shewe þat þe colasioun of proposiciouns nis nat spedful to a necessarie conclusioun.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., II. xviii. (1495), 43. An angel … vnderstondyth and knowyth sodaynly wythout collacion of one thynge to a nother.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 97–8. That the trueth may appeere, by collation of the divers reports.
1646. T. Philipot, Poems, 43. A Collation between Death and Sleep.
1669. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, I. I. xi. 65. The Hebrew and Egyptian Language had some things commun; from the collation whereof, some light may arise.
1790. Paley, Horæ Paul., ii. § 1. A close and attentive collation of the three writings.
1836–7. Sir W. Hamilton, Metaph., xxxiv. (1859), II. 278. This … necessarily supposes a comparison,—a collation, between existence and non-existence.
1848. Mill, Pol. Econ., I. 430.
3. esp. Textual comparison of different copies of a document; critical comparison of manuscripts or editions with a view to ascertain the correct text, or the perfect condition of a particular copy.
1532. W. Thynne, Chaucer’s Wks., Ded. The contrarietees and alteracions founde by collacion of the one [edition] with the other.
1568. in H. Campbell, Love-lett. Mary Q. Scots, App. 52. The originals … were duly conferred and compared by its … with sundry other lettres … in collation whereof no difference was found.
1717. Atterbury, Lett. to Pope, 8 Nov. I return you your Milton, which, upon collation, I find to be revised and augmented in several places.
1768. Johnson, Pref. to Shaks., Wks. IX. 292. By collation of copies, or sagacity of conjecture.
1868. Furnivall, Temp. Pref. Canterb. T. (Chaucer Soc.), 5. The MS. was old and good enough to deserve collation for the next edition of Chaucer.
b. The recorded result of such comparison; a set of corrections or various readings obtained by comparing different copies.
1699. Bentley, Phal., Pref. p. iv. The Collation, it seems was sent defective to Oxon.
1758. Jortin, Erasm., I. 392. Erasmus desires Aldrige to get him a Collation of Seneca … from a Manuscript of King’s College.
1875. Scrivener, Lect. Grk. Test., 54. Bentley’s collation [of Codex A], made in 1716, is yet in manuscript at Trinity College, Cambridge.
c. Law. (See quot.)
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., Collation, in common law, is the comparison, or presentation of a copy to its original, to see whether or no it be conformable: or the report, or act of the officer who made the comparison. A collated act is equivalent to an original; provided all the parties concerned were present at the collation.
4. Printing and Bookbinding. a. The action of collating the sheets or quires of a book or MS.
b. A description of a book or manuscript signatures or the number of its quires, and a statement of the sheets or leaves in each quire; also, a list of the various contents of a book and of the pages or parts of pages occupied by them.
1834. Lowndes, Bibliogr. Manual, Pref. He gives neither the collation nor prices of books.
1882. W. Blades, Caxton, 131. In Caxton’s books the collation of the sheets preceded the folding. Ibid., 133. These indications … enable us to decide, even where printed signatures are wanting, the true collation of a book. Ibid., 173. The Game and Play of the Chess moralised … Collation.—Eight 4ns and one 5n = 74 leaves.
II. Conference, discourse, refection, light repast.
† 5. A personal conferring together; consultation, conference, esp. of a private or informal sort.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Macc. xii. 43. Collacioun [Vulg. collatione], or spekinge to gidre.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 269. Yit wol I … That in my chambre, I and thou and sche Have a collacioun.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, III. v. G vj b. They ought not there to argue and dispute one agaynst another; but they ought to make good and symple colacion to geder.
1538. Songs Costume (Percy Soc.), 77. Quhen thay wald mak collatioun, With any lustie companyeoun.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., II. ii. § 90. Baronius and Binnius will in no case allow this for a council, only they call it a collation.
1666. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), III. 176. Collation with our officers.
† b. A discourse, sermon or homily; a treatise, exposition. Obs.
1417. J. Forester, in Rymer Fœdera (1710), IX. 434. Cardenal Comeracence … had purposit … to have y maad the ferste Collation to for the Kynge.
1494. Fabyan, VII. 306. He made vnto them colacions or exortacions, & toke for his anteteme, Haurietis aquas.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. ci. [xcvii.] 295. The archebysshope of Canterbury sang the masse; and after masse ye bissoppe made a collacyon.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 43. We shall fyrst declare by ordre thre thynges, and so procede in this poore collacyon or treatyse.
1555. Fardle Facions, II. xii. 273. The collacion … made in the pulpite on Sondaies and haly daies.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 65. If any Priest came … into the village, the inhabitants thereof would gather about him, and desire to haue some good lesson or collation made vnto them.
1655. Fuller, Hist. Camb., 101. Bilney … for the present gave them a Collation.
6. The title of the celebrated work of John Cassian, A.D. 410–420 Collationes Patrum in Scetica Eremo Commorantium, i.e., Conferences of (and with) the Egyptian Hermits.
[c. 540. Regula S. Benedicti, lxxiii. Nec non et Collationes Patrum et Instituta et Uita eorum, sed et Regula sancti patris nostri Basilii.]
c. 1200. Winteney Rule St. Benet, ibid. Oððe þa collatiuns, þæt Iohannes Cassianus awrat, & þere haliȝere manna lif þe on Uitas Patrum is ȝeredd, & þe regol ures haliȝes fader Basilies.
1340. Ayenb., 155. Ase zayþ þe boc of collacions of holy uaderes.
1460–70. Bk. Quintessence, 18. As it is preued in vitas patrum, þat is to seye, in lyues & colaciouns of fadris.
a. 1500. Orolog. Sapient., in Anglia, X. 357. Þe boke of lyfe of fadres & her collacyons.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 516/2. Cassianus in the .xi. collacion the .xii. chapter.
1699. Burnet, 39 Art., xvii. 149 (T.). No Book was more read in the following Ages, than Cassian’s Collations.
1885. Catholic Dict., s.v. Fast 341. St. Benedict … requires his religious to assemble after supper and before compline and listen to ‘collations’—i. e. conferences (of Cassian), the lives of the fathers or other edifying books.
† b. In OE., Collationes, as above, was rendered þurhtoʓenes raca, þa þurhtoʓenessa, also simply race, recednesse, c. 1200 þa raca, i.e., relations, narratives, discourses, and in ME. collation had the sense: Relation, account. Obs.
[c. 540. Regula S. Benedicti, xlii. Mox ut surrexerint a cena, sedeant omnes in unum, et legat unus collationes, vel vitas patrum, aut certe aliquid quod edificet audientes … Accedant ad lectionem Collationum.
a. 1000. O. E. Rule St. Benet (Schröer), xlii. Ræde him mon þa raca oðþe lif þæra heahfædera. Ibid. (Logemann). And ræde an þurhtoʓenes race oððe on ealdfædera lifa … Hi gan to rædinge race oððe recednesse.
c. 1200. Winteney Rule St. Benet, ibid. And ræde an þa raca oððe lif þære heahfadera.]
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, III. xxxii. (1869), 153. It is wel … myn entencioun þat þou make me þer of collacioun.
7. ‘The reading from the Collationes or lives of the Fathers, which St. Benedict (Regula xlii, see 6 b.) instituted in his monasteries before compline’ (Dict. Chr. Antiq.).
Whether the name actually originated in the Collationes Patrum read on these occasions does not appear certain. Already in Isidore, a. 640, the name is simply collatio (Regula S. Isidori c. viii. ‘ad audiendum in Collatione Patrem … ad collectam conveniant … Sedentes autem omnes in Collatione tacebunt nisi,’ etc. Du Cange). By Smaragdus a. 850, and Honorius of Autun (c. 1300), the collatio is explained as being itself a conference of the monks upon the passage read, ‘aliis conferentibus interrogationes, conferunt alii congruas responsiones.’ (See Du Cange.)
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 121. After þe nyȝt collacioun sche wook anon to þe day. Ibid., VII. 373. He wolde be at þe colacioun of monkes, and made þe general confessioun wiþ oþere.
1450–1530. Myrr. Our Ladye, 165. Before Complyn ye haue a collacion, where ys redde some spyrytuall matter of gostly edyfycacion.
1482. Monk of Evesham, vi. (Arb.), 26. The mene while … hit range to the collacyon and the bretheren … went thense.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 65. Redynge in ye refectory, or in the chapyter hous at collacyon.
1536. R. Beerley, in Four C. Eng. Lett., 35. Monckes drynk an bowll after collacyon tell ten or xii. of the clock.
8. Extended to the light repast or refection taken by the members of a monastery at close of day, after the reading or conference mentioned in 7. (Many quotations combine senses 7 and 8.) Hence, in modern R. C. usage, A light repast made in lieu of supper on fasting days.
c. 1305. Land Cokayne, 145. [The monks] Wendith meklich hom to drinke And geth to har collacione.
1582. Munday, Eng. Rom. Life, in Harl. Misc., II. 179. The time of studye expired, the bell calleth them from theyr chambers, downe into the Refectorium: Where euery one taketh a glasse of wine, and a quarter of a manchet, and so he maketh his collatione.
1725. trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist. 17th C., I. v. 84. This is that which is call’d Collation … after the Conference they took Water or Wine, and a mouthful of Bread to support their Necessities.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, xi. The lady-abbess, gave a collation to the padre abbate and such of the priests as had assisted at Vesper-service.
1885. Catholic Dict., s.v. Fast 342. The quantity permissible at collation has been gradually enlarged. St. Charles … only allows a glass of wine with an ounce and a half of bread to be taken as a collation on the evening of fasting days.
9. Hence, in gen. use, A light meal or repast: one consisting of light viands or delicacies (e.g., fruit, sweets and wine), or that has needed little preparation (often ‘a cold collation’). ‘A repast; a treat less than a feast’ (J.).
Originally applied to a repast between ordinary meals, and still retaining much of that character.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. xci. [lxxxvii.] 272. Than wyne and spyces were brought in, and so made collasyon.
1533. Udall, Flowers, 74 b (R.). Such bankettis are called collacions, a collatum, tu, that is of layinge together euery one his portion.
1611. Cotgr., Collation … also, a collation, rere-supper, or repast after supper.
1630. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw., 183. Very few which (besides their ordinary of dinner and supper) doe not Gouster, as they call it, and make collations, three or foure times the day.
1664. Pepys, Diary (1876), III. 4. Come to the Hope about one and there shewed them all the ships, and had a collacion of anchovies, gammon, &c.
1759. Robertson, Hist. Scot., I. VII. 536. A collation of wine and sweetmeats was prepared.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl. (1815), 111. Supping in different lodges on cold collations.
1775. Johnson, Western Isl., Buller of Buchan. Ladies come hither sometimes in the summer with collations [i.e., to picnic].
1882. Shorthouse, J. Inglesant, II. 205. A plentiful and delicate collation was spread … with abundance of fruit and wine.
fig. 1652. A. Ross, Hist. World, Pref. 13. Here they may have a short Collation after a long Feast.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, III. 96. May he be pleased to behold this my brief Description of Surrey, as a Running Collation to stay his Stomack, no set meal to satisfie his hunger.
1791. D’Israeli, Cur. Lit., Lit. Journ. The public … now murmured at the want of that salt and acidity by which they had relished the fugitive collation.
III. Conferring, preferment to office, etc.
† 10. Conferring or bestowal (esp. of a dignity, prize, benefit, honorary degree). Obs. exc. as in 11.
1579. Fenton, Guicciard., II. (1599), 90. Honoring in him by the collation of that dignitie, the vertue he shewed in the battell.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episc. (1647), 47. In the collation of holy Orders.
1647. Lilly, Chr. Astrol., xxxvii. 217. Mutuall reception or translation, or collation of light and nature betwixt them.
1660. Bond, Scut. Reg., 88. The donation or collation of the power is from the Community.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., I. viii. 95. In the collation, ’tis not in the gold or the silver … in which the benefit consists, but the will and benevolent intention of him who bestows them.
1691. Ray, Creation, II. (1704), 436. Neither are we to give Thanks alone for the first Collation of these Benefits.
1761. Chron., in Ann. Reg., 128/1. The collation of the prize has been deferred.
1775. Johnson, Western Isl., Wks. X. 332. The indiscriminate collation of degrees has justly taken away that respect which they originally claimed.
11. Eccles. a. The bestowal of a benefice or other preferment upon a clergyman. b. (more usually) The appointment of a clergyman to a benefice; now, techn. Institution by the ordinary to a living which is in his own gift.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 305. It haþ fallen ofte tymes … þat two men have grace at oo tyme of oo collacioun.
1421. Hen. V., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., III. 30, I. 71. Hit is wel oure entent whanne any sucche benefice voydeth of oure yifte yat ye make collacion to him yrof.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xiii. § 88. They had enacted against all Collations of Bishoprickes and dignities by the Pope.
1625. Bacon, Ess. Empire (Arb.), 307. Where the Churchmen come in, and are elected, not by the Collation of the King, or particular Patrons, but by the People.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 64. Collation is properly the bestowing of a Benefice by the Bishop, that hath it in his owne gift or patronage.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. 391. When the ordinary is also the patron, and confers the living, the presentation and institution are one and the same act, and are called a collation to a benefice.
1876. Grant, Burgh Sch. Scotl., I. i. 22. The earliest record of an actual collation by the chancellor of a master to a grammar school.
c. Right of institution.
1480. Bury Wills (1850), 58. That … the priour of the Monasterie of Bury … shuld have the gyfte and collacion of the same.
1536. Act 27 Hen. VI., c. 42 § 6, in Oxf. & Camb. Enactm., 18. Any Parsonnage, Vicarage, Chauntrie or any other promocion spirituall … being … of the collacion or patronage of the said College.
1661. Bramhall, Just Vind., iv. 79. And the Statute of provisors, Our Soveraign Lord the King and his heirs, shall have and enjoy for the time the collations to the Archbishopricks and other dignities elective [etc.].
1725. trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist. 17th C., I. II. iii. 46. Pope Clement IV reserv’d to himself the Collation of all the vacant Benefices.
† d. ? A certificate of recommendation to a benefice. Obs. [F. la provision du collateur.]
1646. Bp. Maxwell, Burd. Issach., in Phenix (1708), II. 293. Before their Right could be compleated or perfected, they were to return to the King from the Superintendent a Collation or Certificate, That he was of that Ability to do good Service to the King and Church.
