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Webster 1913 Edition


Mission

Mis′sion

,
Noun.
[L.
missio
, fr.
mittere
,
missum
, to send: cf. F.
mission
. See
Missile
.]
1.
The act of sending, or the state of being sent; a being sent or delegated by authority, with certain powers for transacting business; comission.
Whose glorious deeds, but in these fields of late,
Made emulous
missions
’mongst the gods themselves.
Shakespeare
2.
That with which a messenger or agent is charged; an errand; business or duty on which one is sent; a commission.
How to begin, how to accomplish best
His end of being on earth, and
mission
high.
Milton.
In these ships there should be a
mission
of three of the fellows or brethren of Solomon's house.
Bacon.
4.
An assotiation or organization of missionaries; a station or residence of missionaries.
5.
An organization for worship and work, dependent on one or more churches.
6.
A course of extraordinary sermons and services at a particular place and time for the special purpose of quickening the faith and zeal participants, and of converting unbelievers.
Addis & Arnold.
7.
Dismission; discharge from service.
[Obs.]
Mission school
.
(a)
A school connected with a mission and conducted by missionaries
.
(b)
A school for the religious instruction of children not having regular church privileges.
Syn. – Message; errand; commission; deputation.

Mis′sion

,
Verb.
T.
To send on a mission.
[Mostly used in the form of the past participle.]
Keats.

Webster 1828 Edition


Mission

MIS'SION

,
Noun.
[L. missio, from mitto, to send.]
1.
A sending or being sent, usually the latter; a being sent or delegated by authority, with certain powers for transacting business; commission; as sent on a foreign mission.
How to begin, how to accomplish best
His end of being on earth, and mission high.
2.
Persons sent; any number of persons appointed by authority to perform any service; particularly, the persons sent to propagate religion, or evangelize the heathen. The societies for propagating the gospel have missions in almost every country. Last week a mission sailed for the Sandwich isles. We have domestic missions and foreign missions.
3.
Dismission; discharge from service; a Roman use of the word; in English, obsolete.
4.
Faction; party. [Not in use.]