[ad. L. susceptio, -ōnem, n. of action f. suscept-, pa. ppl. stem of suscipĕre, f. sus- (see SUB- ad init. and 25) + capĕre to take. Cf. F. susception.]
† 1. The action of taking up, or taking upon oneself (in various senses): taking, assumption, reception, acceptance, undertaking.
1610. Marcelline, Triumphs Jas. I., 60. The susception of Christianity, and profession of the Catholique Faith.
1624. Bp. Hall, Contempl., N. T., II. Christ Tempted. I see the susception of our humane nature, laies thee open to this condition.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. II. III. xxiv. Nor is she chang’d by the susception Of any forms.
1651. Jer. Taylor, Holy Dying, v. § 3. The Jews … confessed their sins to John in the susception of baptism.
1675. Brooks, Gold. Key, Wks. 1867, V. 256. Christ’s susception of the sinner’s guilt.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm. Phil. ii. 8, Wks. 1687, I. 486. The willing susception and the chearfull sustenance of the Cross.
a. 1714. M. Henry, Treat. Baptism, ii. Wks. 1853, I. 510/1. The children’s right to baptism [hath] been built so much upon their susception by sponsors, that [etc.].
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 140. Before he is of a Lawful Age for the Susception of Orders.
1738. E. Erskine, Serm., Wks. 1871, II. 497. It comes about by his own voluntary susception and undertaking.
† 2. Susceptibility of; also transf. an attribute of which something is susceptible. Obs. rare.
1656. Hobbes, Six Lessons, Wks. 1845, VII. 239. I may as well conclude from the not susception of greater and less, that a right angle is not quantity.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Anat. (1691), 48. By the Coelum … I understand the … Weight and Susceptions of Air, and the Impressions made upon it.
3. The action or capacity of taking something into the mind, or what is so taken; passive mental reception (distinguished from perception). rare.
1756. Toldervy, Hist. 2 Orphans, IV. 189. None can exhibit nature in her most striking attitudes, but those whose susceptions are adequate to their task!
1877. Conder, Basis Faith, iv. 164, note. ‘Susception’ would be a better term for ‘all states of consciousness which are simply presentative, not representative’ (Mansel).
