[ad. L. ējectiōn-em, n. of action f. ējicĕre: see EJECT v.]
1. The action of casting out from within. Formerly applied spec. in Physiology (see quot. 1751).
1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Eiection, a casting forth.
a. 1610. Healey, Epictetus’ Man., Cebes (1636), 135. Her owne receipt … which purgeth out all their ingulphed euils, as by vomit or eiection.
1652. French, Yorksh. Spa, viii. 74. There is no ejection of their excrements by stool for two or three dayes.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., Ejection, the act of throwing out or discharging anything at some of the emunctories; as by stool, vomiting or the like.
1813. Eustace, Tour Italy, I. 577 (R.). The vast ejection of ashes, cinders, ignited stones, and melted minerals, must have left a large void in its [Vesuvius’] centre.
1862. Darwin, Fertil. Orchids, vi. 260. I pricked deeply the column … without causing the ejection of this pollinium.
1881. Stokes, in Nature, No. 625. 597. The ejection of gas from the body of the sun.
b. concr. Something ejected; spec. by a volcano.
1654. Gayton, Pleas. Notes, III. xii. 158. The Apothecary sware, he smelt him [the Mouse] comming by the scent of the ejection.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., II. 197. One unclassed volcanic ejection…. This is the roche rouge in Velay, in France.
1833. Lyell, Princ. Geol., III. 197. The ejections in this place entirely conceal from view the stratified rocks of the country.
† c. fig. An outgoing of emotion. Obs.
1655. H. Vaughan, Silex Scint., I. 36. What thin Ejections, Cold affections.
2. A casting out or expulsion from a particular place or position; also from office or possessions.
1566. Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. 1846, I. 349. He … did entreat of the ejectioun of the byaris and the sellaris furth of the Tempill of Jerusalem.
1627. Hakewill, Apol., I. i. § 1. [Adam and Eve’s] Creation and Ejection.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., IV. xlv. 356. Exorcisme (that is to say, of ejection of Devills by Conjuration).
1704. Hearne, Duct. Hist. (1714), I. 417. To the Syracusians he gave Laws upon the ejection of their King.
1765. Johnson, Pref. to Shaks., p. lxii. (R.). Some of these alterations are only the ejection of a word for one that appeared to him more elegant or more intelligible.
1853. Marsden, Early Purit., 48. The ejection of many good men immediately followed.
† b. The state of being banished, exile. rare.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 48/1. The People with whom he [the Son of Periander] lived in his ejection.
c. In Scotch Law. Action of ejection: = EJECTMENT 2. Letters of ejection: see quot.
1764. Erskine, Princ. Sc. Law, 427. Actions of spuilzie, ejection and intrusion are penal. Ibid., 464. If one be condemned … to quit the possession of lands, and refuses … letters of ejection are granted … ordaining the Sheriff to eject him.
† 3. = ECBOLE 2. Obs.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1257. Polymnestus … first made the drawing out of the note longer, and the dissolution and ejection thereof much greater than before.
