Also 5 -cion(e, -cioun, 6 annuntiation, annoncyacyon. [a. Fr. annonciation, ad. L. annuntiātiōn-em, n. of action f. annuntiā-re: see ANNOUNCE and -TION.] The specific senses 2, 3, were the earlier in Eng.
1. The action of announcing, of proclaiming or declaring publicly or officially; the matter so announced, announcement.
1563. Homilies, II. xv. I. (1859), 442. The memory of Christ, the Annunciation of his death.
1678. Barclay, Apol. Quakers, V. vi. 118. The Preaching of Christ … truly termed the Gospel, or an Annunciation of Glad-Tidings to all.
1775. Toplady, Wks. (1828), VI. 269. The annunciation of dinner occasioned a truce to debate.
1827. De Quincey, Murder, Wks. (1862), IV. 60. The annunciation of some gigantic calamity.
2. esp. The intimation of the incarnation, made by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., I. lxvi. 243. The blesside Virgine, that conceivide by the annunciatione of the angille.
c. 1555. Latimer, in Foxe, A. & M., III. 387. The Angel was sent to greet our Lady, and to annunciate and shew the good will of God towards her, and therefore it is called The Annunciation of our Lady.
1704. Nelson, Fest. & Fasts, xiv. (1739), 165. The Annunciation of the blessed Virgin, which the Church this Day celebrates.
1851. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., II. III. II. iii. § 17. No subject has been more frequently treated by the religious painters than that of the Annunciation.
1877. Lady Wood, Sheen’s Foreman, I. 234. Clusters of annunciation lilies.
3. The church festival commemorating that event, observed on the 25th of March; Lady-day.
c. 1400. Epiph. (Turnb., 1843), 80. Thre masses of Crystes nativite … And thre of the annunciacion.
1479. Caxton, Cordyale, Finis. Fiinisshed on the euen of thannunciacion of our said blissid Lady.
1537. Bury Wills (1850), 130. Owr Ladys daye the Annoncyacyon.
1677. Jer. Taylor, Choice Manual, 56 (J.). Upon the day of the Annunciation, or our Lady-day, meditate on the Incarnation of our Blessed Saviour.
1863. R. Chambers, Bk. Days, 417/2. Among the sermons of St. Augustine … are two regarding the festival of the Annunciation.
