Forms: 4–6 estim-, estymacion, -oun, -yon(e, 4 extymacion, 5–6 estymation, -oun, (6 estymacon, esteemation, 7 æstimation), 6– estimation. [ME. estimacion, -cioun, a. OF. estimacion (mod.F. estimation, corresp. to Pr. estimatio, estimacion, Sp. estimacion, It. stimazione), ad. L. æstimātiōn-em, f. æstimāre: see ESTEEM, ESTIMATE.] The action of estimating or esteeming.
† 1. The action of appraising, assessing or valuing; statement of price or value; valuation.
1382. Wyclif, Ex. xxii. 5. If eny man harme feeld … what euer best thing he hath in his feeld … he shal restore for estymacioun of the harm [Vulg. pro damni æstimatione; 1388 the valu of harm].
1413. Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, IV. ix. (1483), 62. The prys of myn Appel is of suche valewe that it passeth the estymacion of ony creature.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xiii. 13. They had syluer for theyr horses … at theyre owne estymation, without any grudgyng.
1609. Bible (Douay), 1 Kings viii. 5. They immolated sheepe and oxen without estimation and number.
1667. E. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. III. ii. (1743), 158. Silver and Gold … have been … chosen to be the Instruments of Exchange and Estimation of all Things.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., I. I. xi. 190. In the household book of Henry … there are two different estimations of wheat.
1792. A. Young, Trav. France, 499. The Bureau de la Balance du Commerce at Paris … is beyord all comparison more accurate in its estimations [than the English custom-house.]
† b. Estimated value; concr. something that one values. Obs.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., II. (Arb.), 155. They be wrought so fynely and conningelye … that the estimation of no costely stuffe is hable to counteruaile the price of the worke.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., I. iv. 99. Your Ring may be stolne too, so your brace of vnprizeable Estimations, the one is but fraile, and the other Casuall.
1631. T. May, trans. Barclay’s Mirr. Mindes, I. 245. The earth in the bowels of it hath many metalls, both of different natures and estimations.
1775. Johnson, Tax. no Tyr., 41. For some thing, in their opinion, of more estimation.
2. a. Appreciation, valuation in respect of excellence or merit; esteem considered as a sentiment. Phrase, To have or hold in estimation.
1530. Palsgr., 34. If he desyre that his writynges shulde be had in any estymacion.
a. 1535. More, De quat. Noviss., Wks. 82/2. As rising of an hie estimacion of our self.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 268. So farre from having monie in estimation … I have cast it away from me.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), II. 17. He holds it a kind of Self-Preservation to maintain a good Estimation of himself.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 456, ¶ 5. Mens Estimation follows us according to the Company we keep.
1787. Canning, in Microcosm, No. 18. Wishing to know in what estimation he was held by mankind.
1796. C. Marshall, Garden., i. (1813), 1. The degree of estimation that the art of gardening is worthy of.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, 273. Mr. Dombey is so generous in his estimation of any trivial accomplishment.
1882. Pebody, Eng. Journalism, xxi. 156. The Provincial Press of Great Britain never stood higher in public estimation than it stands to-day.
† b. The condition of being esteemed; ‘account’ or worth in the opinion of others; esteem considered passively; repute. Of places: Importance, consequence. Phrases, To be in estimation, to grow out of estimation. Obs.
1530. Palsgr., 300. Any auctour of estymation.
1531. Elyot, Gov., I. xiii. 53. The frute … leseth his verdure and taste, and finally his estimation.
1569. J. Rogers, Gl. Godly Loue, 185. How in estimacion a chaste life is.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 159. The name of Hyde … led me to thinke that it had been of more estimation in time past.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. lxxi. 6. Gods miracles growe out of estimacion with us by custome.
1593. Nashe, Four Lett. Confut., 14. His brother … indeuord to take from mee all estimation of Arte or witte.
1612. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., xxiv. (1627), 268. To auoide carefully … whatsoeuer may diminish his estimation and authority.
1764. Franklin, Ess., Wks. 1840, II. 349. Gold and silver have … universal estimation.
1792. Burke, Lett. to Sir H. Langrishe, Wks. 1842, I. 544. A miserable populace, without property, without estimation, without education.
1824–8. Landor, Imag. Conv. (1846), 51. The family of every criminal is a loser in estimation … by his punishment, however just.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xxv. The sole virtue of our commonweal, its strength, and its estimation, lay among the burgher craft of the better class.
3. The process of forming an approximate notion of (numbers, quantities, magnitudes, etc.) without actual enumeration or measurement.
c. 1400. Maundev., v. (1839), 41. That Tour … was of 25 myle in cyrcuyt of the Walles … as Men may demen by estymatioun.
1424. Paston Lett., No. 4, I. 12. To the noumbre of four score and more by estimacion.
1473. Warkw., Chron., 5. A blasynge sterre … iiij. fote highe by estimacyone.
1558. in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. v. 182. Three … parcells of pasture grounde … conteyning by estimacion eightene acres.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. 160. If a ship sail 8 Miles South in an Hour, by Log or Estimation.
1772. Hutton, Bridges, 86. The proper estimation of the expence.
1786. Phil. Trans., LXXVI. 9. The distance of the nearest threads became a very visible space, answerable to one minute each, and therefore capable of a much further subdivision by estimation.
1838. De Morgan, Ess. Probab., 128. That which we call estimation means guess formed by a person whose previous habits and experience are such as to make it very likely that he can tell nearly true that which would require instruments to obtain with great approach to accuracy.
† b. Estimated number. Obs.
1513. Bk. Keruynge, in Babees Bk., 274. There shall be set brede, trenchours, and spones, after the estymacyon of them that shall syt there.
4. Manner of estimating or judging; opinion, judgment.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., IV. iv. 125. Þou hast quod she þe ryȝt estimacioun of þis.
c. 1400. Test. Love, I. (Chalm. Poets), 474/1. Thestimacion of the enuious people, ne loketh nothing to desertes of men … but onely to the auenture of fortune.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys, Introd. (Roxb.), 6. Be the blyssyd medyacyoun Of this virgyne aftyr my estimacyoun.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 20 b. Reuchline in the defence of his estimation, aunswereth him [Phefercorne] with another.
a. 1677. Barrow, Wks. (1741), I. v. 45. He that walketh uprightly … is sure not to come off disgracefully … in the estimations of men.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 39. They left the crown what, in the eye and estimation of law, it had ever been, perfectly irresponsible.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 88. The dearest of men in my estimation.
1864. I. Taylor, Words & Places, 469. In popular estimation, idle and vagabond habits were acquired by those who made the pilgrimage to the … Holy Land.
† b. Conjecture, guessing. Obs. rare–1. Cf. 3.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. iii. 273. I speake not this in estimation, As what I thinke might be, but what I know Is ruminated, plotted, and set downe.
† 5. ‘Judgment’ as a mental faculty. Obs. Cf. ESTIMATIVE.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., III. xi. (1495), 55. Proprely to speke a hound vsyth no reason but he vsyth a besye and stronge estymacyon.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXIV. ii. These are the v. wyttes … Fyrst, commyn wytte … Fantasy, and estymacyon truely.
