Obs. [ad. L. contesserātiōn-em (Tertullian, n. of action from contesserāre (f. con + tessera) to contract friendship by means of the tessera hospitalis, a square tablet which was divided as a tally or token between two friends in order that they or their descendants might thereby ever afterwards recognize each other.]
1. Contraction of friendship by means of the tessera or other symbol of union.
1620. Donne, Serm. Gen. xviii. 25. But certainly, there is a race that have not this contesseration [baptism], nor these Testimoniall letters, nor this outward baptisme.
1654. Jer. Taylor, Real Pres., 1. The holy symboles of the Eucharist were intended to be a contesseration, and an union of Christian societies to God, and with one another.
1660. Stillingfl., Iren., II. vii. § 4. To denote their mutual contessaration in the faith, and communion in the same Church.
2. [L. tessera a chequer.] A chequered or tessellated combination, a ‘mosaic.’
1671. B. Oley, Life G. Herbert, O v (T.). To describe that person of his, which afforded so unusual a contesseration of elegancies, and set of rarities to the beholder.
