Forms: 4 exaltacioun, 4–7 exaltacion, -yon, 6 exhaltation. [a. F. exaltation, ad. L. exaltātiōn-em, f. exaltāre: see EXALT.] The action of exalting; the fact or state of being exalted.
1. In physical sense: The action of lifting up or raising on high; the state of being lifted up, or set in a high position.
1616. Lane, Sqr.’s Tale, XI. 278. He comes: whose horse fomed the seas invndation, as th’ rider felt him on owne exaltation.
1686. Horneck, Crucif. Jesus, xvi. 403. Lift me up from the earth, that I may relish the comfort of thy exaltation.
1794. G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Philos., I. x. 429. When the sun is at its greatest exaltation in summer.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. viii. 265. [Glacier] tables…. A limit is placed to their exaltation by the following circumstance.
b. Exaltation of the Cross: a feast observed on Sept. 14th (see quot. 1884).
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 54. Ye exaltacion of ye holy crouche.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., V. (1520), 60 b/1. Than was the feest of the exaltacyon of the crosse made.
1700. Tyrrell, Hist. Eng., II. 770. Thursday after the Exaltation of the Cross in September.
1885. Catholic Dict., s.v. Cross, The ‘Exaltation of the Cross’ was celebrated from ancient times in memory of the miraculous apparition which Constantine saw in the year 317…. The day was afterwards kept with greater solemnity when, after his victory over the Persians in 627, Heraclius recovered the true cross.
† c. concr. A fanciful name for: A flight (of larks). Obs.
c. 1430. Lydg., Hors Shepe & G. (1822), 30. A exaltacion of larkes.
1824. J. Macculloch, Highl. Scotl., III. 407. I have … never spoken of … an exaltation of larks.
1883. Standard, 26 Sept., 5/1. Every one with any pretence to be gentle-folk spoke of … an exaltation of larks.
2. In non-material sense: a. Elevation in authority, dignity, power, station, wealth, etc.; esp. the elevation of a sovereign to a throne. † Also occas. An exalted position; elevated rank.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, vii. 33. The place where hir glorye and exaltacion ought to be … manyfested.
1539. Tonstall, Serm. Palm Sund., A viij b. Here it is to be noted, that God gaue to Christe his exaltation, as to man, and not as to god.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 72. Ye have presumed thus to stande against the exaltation of this oure sovereigne.
1611. Bible, Judith xvi. 8. The exaltation of those that were oppressed.
a. 1631. Donne, in Selections (1840), 104. Though faith be of an infinite exaltation above understanding.
1670. G. H., Hist. Cardinals, III. II. 268. The Exaltation of this Pope happen’d upon Ascension day.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (ed. 3), II. 42. Like that of Joseph’s Brethren, when he … told them the Story of his Exaltation in Pharoah’s Court.
1791. Boswell, Johnson (1816), II. 188. A master … is in his highest Exaltation when he is loco parentis.
1858. Froude, Hist. Eng., III. xiii. 88. The Reformation in their minds was associated with the exaltation of base blood.
b. Elation of feeling; a state of rapturous emotion; an undue degree of pleasurable excitement. Also Path. (see quot. 1884).
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VI. ccvi. 219. In tyme of whiche exaltacion of his mynde, he … charged the water that he shulde flowe no hygher.
1707. Lond. Gaz., No. 4351/1. We want Words to express the Exaltation it has rais’d in us, to see Your Majesty’s unwearied Endeavours … crown’d with such … Success.
1870. Emerson, Soc. & Solit., vii. 144. I knew a man in a certain religious exaltation, who thought it an honor to wash his own face.
1874. Maudsley, Respons., in Ment. Dis., vii. 234. There was nothing particularly noticeable in him except … a condition of exaltation in the spring.
1884. Syd. Soc. Lex., Exaltation, the immoderate increase of the action of an organ.
c. An extolling, a laudation.
1650. Hubbert, Pill Formality, 190. Your praises, and exaltations of free grace.
d. The raising to a lofty point of excellence; exalted degree; an exalted manifestation.
1656. Cowley, Pindar. Odes, Brutus, ii. Th’Heroick Exaltations of Good, Are so far from Understood, We count them Vice.
1667. Rust, Fun. Serm. Bp. Taylor (1672), 67. Those Heavenly Bodies … are fit … instruments for the Soul, in its highest Exaltations.
a. 1694. Tillotson, Serm., i. Wks. (1714), 4. In God all Perfections in their highest degree and exaltation meet together.
1837. Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., III. 1. The degree of civilisation of any people corresponds with the exaltation of the idea which is the most prevalent among that people.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 12. That chivalrous spirit … was found in the highest exaltation among the Norman nobles.
1883. Christian Commw., 6 Dec., 174/1. Is this exaltation of the ideal of life an evil?
e. Augmentation in degree or intensity.
1729. Law, Serious C., v. 75. The Religion of the Gospel is only the refinement, and exaltation of our best faculties.
1842. Grove, Corr. Phys. Forces (1850), 80–1. We obtain an indefinite exaltation of chemical power.
1855. Bain, Senses & Int., II. ii. § 1 (1864), 177. The skin is therefore marked by a great exaltation of the common sensibility of the body.
f. Of prices: A rise. rare.
1866. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. xxi. 536. The last two years being affected by the exaltation in the price. Ibid. (1884), Work & Wages, 22. Quite as great is the exaltation in the price of millstones.
3. Astrol. The place of a planet in the zodiac in which it was considered to exert its greatest influence. Also fig.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sqr.’s T., 41. Phebus the sonne … was neigh his exaltacioun.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VIII. ix. (1495), 307. The sonne hath his vertue and exaltacion in the eyghteenth gree of Aries.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Rollo, IV. ii. Mars his gaudium rising in the ascendant That joint with Libra too, the house of Venus And Imum Cœli, Mars his exaltation [printed exultation] Ith’ seaventh house.
1632. Massinger, City Madam, II. ii. (1658), 25. Shee in her Exaltation, and he in his Triplicitie trine, and face, assure a fortunate combination to Hymen, excellent prosperous and happie.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The 15th degree of Cancer, is the exaltation of Jupiter, according to Albumazar.
1819. Jas. Wilson, Compl. Dict. Astrol., s.v., The original meaning of the planets’ exaltations seems to have been unknown in the time of Ptolemy.
1839. Bailey, Festus (1854), 121. Your exaltations and triplicities, Fiery, airy and the rest.
fig. 1607–12. Bacon, Ess., Custom & Educ. (Arb.), 372. In such places the force of Custome is in his exaltacion.
† 4. In the older chemistry and physiology: The action or process of refining or subliming; the bringing a substance to a higher degree of potency or purity; an instance of the same. Obs.
1471. Ripley, Comp. Alch., X. in Ashm. (1652), 178. Exaltacion,… Full lyttyll yt ys dyfferent from Sublymacyon.
1576. Baker, Jewell of Health, 176 a. Let the exhaltacion of the vineger be after done on a soft fyre.
1605. Timme, Quersit., III. 184. Exaltation is euaporation of the impure humour.
1666. J. Smith, Old Age, 107. The Chyle it self … receiving yet farther exaltations.
1686. W. Harris, trans. Lemery’s Chem., II. v. (ed. 3), 486. Tincture of Cinnamon … is an exaltation of the more oily parts of Cinnamon in Spirit of Wine.
1718. Quincy, Compl. Disp., 8. Salts, most capable of Exaltation, wrapped up in a small Portion of Phlegm.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., It is this exaltation of the sulphurous part in strawberries, that gives them their agreeable, vinous taste.
† b. concr. A substance in a highly refined condition. Obs.
1686. W. Harris, trans. Lemery’s Chem., I. xx. (ed. 3), 437. Flower of Sulphur … is an exaltation of Sulphur.
