[ad. L. ēmigrātiōn-em, n. of action f. ēmigrā-re to EMIGRATE. (Of earlier occurrence than the vb.)]
1. gen. The action of migrating or departing out of a particular place or set of surroundings. In early examples often applied to the departure of the soul from the body, either lit. by death, or fig. with reference to ecstatic rapture.
1646. Bp. Hall, Balme of Gilead, 340 (R.). A scorching triall (upon the emigration) in flames little inferiour, for the time, to those of hell.
1656. H. More, Antid. Ath., III. ix. (1712), 171. The Emigration of humane Souls from the bodies by Ecstasy.
1678. Jer. Taylor, Fun. Serm., 250. Frequent Aspirations and Emigrations of his Soul after God.
1755. Phil. Trans., XLIX. 175. There is an emigration of a great number from hence to sea.
1794. G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Philos., IV. li. 414. Successive emigrations [of air-bubbles] towards the upper parts of the tube.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), I. Introd. p. lvii. A new confirmation of the vegetable harmonies of Nature founded on the emigration of plants.
† b. transf. Obs.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., Exhort. § 12. 8. JESUS had some … acts of emigration beyond the lines of his even and ordinary conversation.
2. esp. The departure of persons from one country, usually their native land, to settle permanently in another. Also attrib., as in emigration-agent.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., II. xi. 240 (R.). Plethory hath many times occasioned Emigrations.
1768–71. A. Young, Farmer’s Lett. to People, 198. It highly behoves us to stop immediately all further emigrations.
1791. Newte, Tour Eng. & Scot., 125. Those melancholy emigrations … from the Islands … of Scotland.
1833. Wade, Middle & Working Classes (1835), 106. The practicability of emigration as a means of relief.
a. 1862. Buckle, Civiliz. (1873), III. i. 9. An overflow, which, in civilized times, is an emigration, is in barbarous times, an invasion.
3. The whole body of persons who emigrate.
1863. Bright, Sp. Amer., 16 June (1876), 131/2. Of all the emigration from this country … a mere trifle went South.
