Also 4 co(r)reccioun, 4–6 correccion, -cyon, -tioun(e, -one, (5 coreccion, correxyon). [a. Anglo-F. correccioun = F. correction, ad. L. correctiōn-em, n. of action f. corrigĕre (ppl. stem correct-) to CORRECT.]
1. The action of correcting or setting right; substitution of what is right for what is erroneous (in a book, etc.); amendment. Hence, loosely, pointing out or marking of errors (in order to their removal). Correction of the press: i.e., of printers’ errors.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 9594. If any defaut in þis tretice be … I wil stand til þe correccion of ilka rightwyse lered man.
1485. Caxton, Chas. Gt., III. ii. 251. Yf in al thys book I haue mesprised … I demaunde correxyon and amendement.
a. 1535. Dewes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 1053. Submyttyng me to the correction of your grace.
1599. Thynne, Animadv. (1865), 19. Chaucer dothe submytte the Correctione of his woorkes to Gower.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., 4. That Translation was not so sound and so perfect, but that it needed in many places correction.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 144, ¶ 9. The accuracy … of the style was produced by the successive correction of the chief criticks of the age.
1850. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. vi. 80. All experience is a correction of life’s delusions.
1857. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sc., I. 367. The correction of the calendar.
1877. Blackie’s Pop. Encycl., II. 565/2. In the early times of the art of printing more attention was paid … to the correction of the press.
1879. Geo. Eliot, Theo. Such, xi. To admit that he has made a blunder or to appear conscious of correction.
b. phr. Under correction: subject to correction; a formula expressing deference to superior information, or critical authority. So † saving correction.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1282. For myne wordes here and euery part I speke hem alle vnder correccioun Of yow.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, i. 21. It semeth me (spekynge vnder correction) that my lorde … hath enterprised a great foly.
1599. Thynne, Animadv., 57. Sauing correctione, the former sence is good.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., III. ii. 130. Captaine Mackmorrice, I thinke, looke you, vnder your correction, there is not many of your Nation.
1662. Dryden, Wild Gallant, III. i. I do not conceive myself, under correction, so inconsiderable a person.
1867. Stubbs, Med. & Mod. Hist. (1886), 17. I speak under correction; for I do not pretend to look at the subject as a question of psychology.
2. (with a and pl.) An act or instance of emendation; concr. that which is substituted for what is wrong or faulty, esp. in a literary work; an emendation.
1528. Gardiner, in Pocock, Rec. Ref., I. li. 130. Wherein when we saw the additions, detractions, and corrections.
1599. Thynne, Animadv. (1865), 2. The annotacions and corrections delivered by master Speghte upon the last editione of Chaucers Workes.
1738. Birch, Life Milton, Wks. 1738, I. 7. To see the first Thoughts and subsequent Corrections of so great a Poet as Milton.
1832. Babbage, Econ. Manuf., xxi. (ed. 3), 207. He should make the whole of his corrections in the manuscript, and should copy it out fairly.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, III. 648. The compositor … makes the corrections in the types, by lifting out the wrong letters … and putting in right ones in their places.
† 3. The correcting (of a person) for faults of character or conduct; reprehension, rebuke, reproof. Obs.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter ix. 24. Grete ire is of god when coreccioun is away & flaterynge comes.
1382. Wyclif, Hos. v. 9. In the day of correction [1388 amendyng; Vulg. correptionis]. Ibid., Tit. iii. 10. Schonye thou a man heretyk, aftir oon and the secunde coreccioun, or correpcion, or reprouyng.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 40. Fervent in the correction of other mennes vices.
1611. Bible, 2 Tim. iii. 16. All Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God, & is profitable for doctrine, for reproofe, for correction, for instruction in righteousnesse.
1794. Paley, Evid. (1797), 34. His repeated correction of the ambition of his disciples.
1814. D’Israeli, Quarrels Auth. (1867), 384. Wotton, in a dignified reproof, administered a spirited correction to the party-spirit.
4. The correcting (of a person) by disciplinary punishment; chastisement, properly with a view to amendment; but frequently in later use (now somewhat arch.) of corporal punishment, flogging.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Friar’s T., 22. Thanne hadde he thurgh his Iurisdiccion Power to doon on hem correccion.
c. 1400. Three Kings Cologne, xxxiii. (1886), 123. [They] myȝt not reuoke þe pepil from her eresyes by no spirituel correccioun ne temporel correccioun.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 3 b. In the lawe of Moyses there was almoost no correcyon for notable and great crymes but deth.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, II. 38. Their ordinary correction is to beate them with cudgels.
1662. Bk. Com. Prayer, Visit. Sick, Sanctify … this thy fatherly correction to him.
1779–81. Johnson, L. P., Blackmore, Wks. III. 179. Correction seldom effects more than the suppression of faults.
1780. Comyns, Digest Laws Eng., V. 588. Other Instruments of Punishment or Correction are … The Pillory and Stocks.
1836. Sir J. Elley, in Ho. Com., 26 Feb. Corporal punishment—a mode of correction we all deplore.
1844. Thackeray, Barry Lyndon, xviii. I … administered such a correction across the young caitiff’s head and shoulders with my horsewhip.
† b. An exercise of correcting discipline. c. Correcting control. Obs.
1465. Paston Lett., No. 502, II. 186. Desyryng hys Lordshyp that … a correccyon myȝt be hadde, in as moch as he was … hys ordynare, and … he was a prest and under hys correccyon.
d. House of correction: a building for the confinement and punishment of offenders, esp. with a view to their reformation; a bridewell.
1575–6. Act 18 Eliz., c. 3 § 5. In everye Countye … one Two or more Abyding Howses … shalbe provided, and called the Howse or Howses of Correction for setting on worcke and punishinge … of suche as … shalbee taken as Roges.
1611. in N. Riding Rec., I. 225. Ordered That a House of Correction be erected in the Towne of Richmond for the whole North Riding and Richmond Towne.
1670. Marvell, Corr., Wks. 1872–5, II. 354. The Bill for Conventicles … orders that who cannot pay his 5s. … shall worke it out in the House of Correction.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 386. A bridewell or house of correction.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, xiii. A niserable shoeless criminal, who had been … committed … to the House of Correction for one month.
1890. Home Office Order, To The Keeper of the House of Correction, at Preston, in the County of Lancaster.
† 5. Control, regulation, governance. Obs.
1657. Howell, Londinop., 17. They have had the conservation and correction of the River of Thames.
6. The counteracting or neutralizing of the ill effect of (something hurtful or unpleasant).
1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., vi. in Ashm. (1652), 97. Another Furnace … serving … for Correction called Ablution.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. cv. This strong medicine … ought not to be giuen inwardly unto delicate bodies without great correction.
1747. Wesley, Prim. Physick (1762), p. xv. Other Medecines which need no such Correction.
7. a. Math. and Physics. The addition or subtraction of some quantity to or from the result of an observation or calculation, to bring it into accordance with certain standard conditions; the quantity so added or subtracted. † Correction of a fluent (in Fluxions): the determination of what is now called the constant of integration; the constant itself.
1743. W. Emerson, Fluxions. And finding the Fluent, z=sx2/2tt, which needs no Correction (because when z=0, x=0).
1796. Hutton, Math. Dict., I. 482 s.v. Fluent, The Fluent of a given fluxion, found as above, sometimes … wants a correction.
1839. Penny Cycl., XIII. 422/2. The correction for the thickness [of the lens], to be subtracted from F [the focal distance].
1890. C. A. Young, Elem. Astron., xiv. § 492. The correction for parallax always has to be added to the observed altitude.
b. Optics. The counteraction of the aberration or dispersion of the rays in a lens or other optical instrument.
1856. Carpenter, Microscope (1875), 45. If the lenses be so adjusted that their correction is perfect for an uncovered object.
1890. C. A. Young, Elem. Astron., xvi. § 533. To give the most perfect possible correction of the spherical aberration as well as of the chromatic. Ibid., § 534. It is not possible with the kinds of glass hitherto available to obtain a perfect correction of color.
† 8. The condition of being corrected or correct (in style). Obs. rare. [A Gallicism.]
1759. Johnson, in Mrs. Lennox, trans. Brumoy’s Gr. Theatre, III. 154. No poetry lasts long that is not very correct; the ballance therefore seems to incline in favour of correction…. So certain is it that correction is the touch-stone of poetry.
9. attrib. and Comb., as correction-house = house of correction (see 4 d); correction-proof a., proof against correction; correction-table, a table of corrections (see 7).
c. 1625. R. Harris, Hezekiah’s Recov. (1630), 28. There be, in the country … correction-houses to be builded.
1630. in Sir F. M. Eden, State Poor (1797), I. 159. That the correction-houses in all counties may bee made adjoining to the common prisons, and the gaoler to be made governor of them.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xvi. 111. A stubborn youth, correction-proof.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xlviii. A … fierce attack … upon the outer gate of the Correction-House.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., ix. (1854), 67. Voyagers speak of the effects of Arctic refraction in language as exact and mathematical as their own correction tables.
