Stā’/tion1, n.
n. [Lat. statio, from stare, statum, to stand; Fr. station, It. stazione, Sp. estacion, Pr. estatio.]
Sense 1. A state of rest. [Obs.]
All progression is performed by drawing on or impelling forward what was before in station, or at quiet. Browne.
Sense 2. The act of standing. [Rare.]
Their manner was to stand at prayer, . . . on which their meetings for that purpose received the name of stations. Hooker.
Sense 3. The spot or place where any thing stands, especially where a person or thing habitually stands, or is appointed to remain for a time; as, the station of a sentinel; hence, specifically, (a.) A place where railroad trains regularly come to a stand, for the convenience of passengers, taking in fuel, discharging freight, or the like. (b.) The place where the police force of any precinct is assembled when not on duty. (c.) (Surv.) The place at which an instrument is planted, and observations are made. (d.) (Zoological Geog.) The particular place or kind of situation in which a species naturally occurs. Dana. (e.) (Civ. Law.) A place to which ships may resort, and where they may lie at anchor in safety.
Sense 4. Post assigned; office; the part or department of public duty which a person is appointed to perform. “The cherubim taking their stations to guard the place.” Milton.
Sense 5. Situation; position.
The fig and date — why love they to remain In middle station, and an even plain? Prior.
Sense 6. Employment; occupation; business.
By spending the Sabbath in retirement and religious exercises, we gain new strength and resolution to perform God’s will in our several stations the week following. Nelson.
Sense 7. Character; state; rank; condition of life.
The greater part have kept their station. Milton.
Sense 8. (Eccl.) (a.) The fast of the fourth and sixth days of the week, Wednesday and Friday, in memory of the council which condemned Christ, and of his passion. (Eccl.) (b.) A church, among the Roman Catholics, where indulgences are to be had on certain days. (c.) One of the places at which ecclesiastical processions pause for the performance of an act of devotion; formerly, the tomb of a martyr, or some similarly consecrated spot; now, especially, one of those representations of the successive stages of our Lord’s passion, which are often placed round the naves of large churches and by the side of the way leading to sacred edifices, and which are visited in rotation, stated services being performed at each. Fairholt.
Synonyms—STATION, DEPOT. It is unfortunate that, in the United States, the stopping-places on railways first received the name of depot—a gross misapplication of the term, since it means simply a storehouse or magazine. In England, the name has always been station or station-house, and there is now a growing tendency to adopt this in the United States, as the only proper word.