Also 6 ereccion. [ad. late L. ērectiōn-em, n. of action f. ērect-: see ERECT v. Cf. F. érection.] The action of erecting, the condition of being erected.
† 1. A lifting up (of the hands); also, an elevated condition; (of hills) elevation, altitude.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., XV. xxiv. 440. There must be erection of hands, confession [etc.].
1612. Brerewood, Lang. & Relig., xiii. 138. We are not to consider only the erection of the hils.
a. 1649. Winthrop, New Eng. (1853), I. 136. The congregation testifying their consent by erection of hands.
1692. Ray, Dissol. World, iii. (1732), 32.
† 2. Advancement in condition or dignity; elevation to office. Obs.
1503–4. Act 19 Hen. VII., c. 26. The seid Ereccion and Creacion to the Kinges seid sone made to hym as to the Duke of Yorke.
1528. in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. App. xxiii. 46. Synnes his erection to this dignitie, his holynes [etc.].
1667. Ussher, Power Princes, I. (1683), 47. God … knoweth when and in what place to appoint the Erection of Kings.
b. concr. in Sc. Law. A temporal lordship ‘erected’ out of a spiritual benefice.
1754. Erskine, Princ. Sc. Law (1809), 244. That all the superiorities of erections … should be declared to be in the crown.
3. A setting upright; an upright position.
1622. Sparrow, Bk. Com. Prayer (1661), 39. By the erection of our bodies, expressing the elevation … of our souls.
1691. Ray, Creation (1714), 221. Of this Erection of the Body of Man, the Ancients have taken Notice as a particular Gift and Favour of God.
1855. Bain, Senses & Int., I. i. § 7 (1864), 86. The erections and bendings of the body are outlets for spontaneous activity.
4. Phys. The action of making rigid any bodily organ containing erectile tissue; the condition of being so erected; also, an instance of the same.
1594. Plat, Jewell-ho., I. 18. As to woorke an erection of those engendring parts.
1607. Shaks., Timon, IV. iii. 164. That your Actiuity may defeate and quell The sourse of all Erection.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 216. Which serve the erection to Coition.
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 1004. They are good for such as want erection, and do promote venery very much.
1787. H. Watson, in Med. Commun., II. 158. His penis was in a state of erection.
1885. Law Rep. Appeal X. 176. The appellant had an erection on each of two unsuccessful attempts.
† 5. Exaltation, excitement, invigoration (of the mind, spirits, etc.). Obs.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia, I. (1590), 88 a. Her peereles height my minde to high erection Drawes vp.
1626. Bacon, Sylva (1631), § 713. When a Man would listen suddenly to any Thing, he Starteth; For the Starting is an Erection of the Spirits to attend.
1651. Clarendon, Contempl. Ps., Tracts (1727), 542. It must be a wonderful Erection of their Spirits, to know that God will be a Father of those Fatherless.
6. The action of rearing (a building, column, etc.). Also fig.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., I. iii. 44. When we see the figure of the house, Then must we rate the cost of the Erection.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, I. iii. § 5 35 (J.). Counting Seth to be an hundred yeares old at the erection of them [pillars].
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., Pref. 20. In the erection of a more judicious and consistent Fabrick.
1786. W. Thompson, Watson’s Philip III. (1839), 337. Prohibiting the erection of all Protestant fabrics on lands belonging to the church.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 95. The erection of such mills is not to be recommended universally.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, III. 187. Their respect for his memory was evinced by the erection of a monumental column.
b. concr. That which is built up or reared; a building, structure. lit. and fig.
1609. Manch. Crt. Leet Rec. (1885), II. 242. Two small erections latelye adjoyned to the houses called the red houses.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, II. 286. The English were driven to make such an erection upon a fable, or person fained.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 164. There is in Perthshire a barrow which seems to be a British erection.
1831. Brewster, Newton (1855), II. xxi. 253. It … is surmounted by a wooden erection said to have been Newton’s private observatory.
7. Astrol. The construction of a scheme or figure of the heavens. Obs.
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., IV. iv. (1612), K 1 b. By erection of her Figure, I gest it.
8. a. Constitution or establishment (of an office, institution, etc.). b. Investment with a specified condition.
1508. Fisher, Wks., 184. This mercyfull ereccion and buyldynge of crystes chirche.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron. Scotl. (1587), 68/1. After the first erection of the Scotish Kingdome.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 506. Erection into life.
1701. Bp. Atterbury, Serm. (1740), I. vii. 255. From their [the Jews’] first Erection into a People, down to their final Excision.
1706. trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist. 16th C., II. IV. iii. 406. The Bull of Erection [of Bishopricks] was despatched.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, Wks. VIII. 187. Any capital innovation which may amount to the erection of a dangerous nuisance.
1863. H. Cox, Instit., I. x. 240. The statute … prohibits the erection of any such courts hereafter.
1885. 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., 34. He consolidated his possessions by obtaining their erection into a barony.
