peregrination

Noun

peregrination (countable and uncountable, plural peregrinations)

1. (archaic, countable) A person's life regarded as a temporary stay on earth and a journey to the afterlife.
   • It is true our life in this vvorld is not called a baniſhment any vvhere in the Scripture: but a pilgrimage, a peregrination, a travell; but perigrinatio cum ignominia conjunctu, exilium; he that leaves his Countrey becauſe he vvas aſhamed, or afraid to return to it, or to ſtay in it, is a baniſhed...1618 April 21 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar), John Donne, “A Sermon Preached at White-hall Aprill 12. 1618.”, in XXVI. Sermons (Never before Publish’d) Preached by that Learned and Reverend...
2. (archaic, broadly, countable) A journey made by a pilgrim; a pilgrimage; also (uncountable) the making of pilgrimages.
   • According to the mode of that time, he [Cnut the Great] made a pilgrimage to Rome, with a view to expiate the crimes, which paved his way to the throne; but he made a good use of this peregrination, and returned full of the observations he had made in the country, through which he had passed, which...1760, Edmund Burke, “An Essay towards an Abridgment of the English History. […]”, in [Walker King], editor, The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, new edition, volume X, London: […] [R....
3. (broadly, countable) A journey or trip, especially by foot; also (uncountable) journeying, travelling.
   • By what I have touch’d in the Chapter of the Elms, concerning the peregrination of that Tree into Spain (where even in Plinie’s time there were none, and where now they are in great abundance) why ſhould we not more generally endeavour to propagate the Ilex amongſt us; […]1670, John Evelyn, “. Chapter XXV. Of the Cork, Ilex, Alaternus, Phyllyrea, Granad, Lentise, Myrtle, Jasmine, &c..”, in Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-trees and the Propagation of Timber in His...
   • [O]ur linguist having received such extraordinary rudiments towards a good education, was afterwards trained up in every thing that becomes a gentleman; wearing off by little and little all the vicious habits and practices that he had been used to in the course of his peregrinations.1711 August 9 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “SUNDAY, July 30, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 130; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II...
4. (broadly, figuratively, uncountable) Broad or systematic discussion of a subject; (countable) an instance of this; a discourse.

   Synonyms:

   perambulation

5. (broadly, figuratively, uncountable) Straying from the main subject in speech or writing; digression; (countable) an instance of this.

   Synonyms:

   perambulation

6. (broadly, obsolete, uncountable) The state of living abroad temporarily; sojourning; (countable) an act of doing this; a sojourn.