Admi'ttance. n.s. [from admit.]
- The act of admitting; allowance or permission to enter.
It cannot enter any man's conceit to think it lawful, that every man which listeth should take upon him charge in the church; and therefore a solemn admittance is of such necessity, that, without it, there can be no church-polity. Hooker, b. iii.
As to the admittance of the weighty elastic parts of the air into the blood, through the coats of the vessels, it seems contrary to experiments upon dead bodies. Arbuthnot on Aliments.
- The power or right of entering.
What
If I do line one of their hands? — 'tis gold
Which buys admittance. Shakespeare's Cymbeline.Surely a daily expectation at the gate, is the readiest way to gain admittance into the house. South's Sermons.
'I'here's news from Bertran; he desires
Admittance to the king, and cries aloud,
This day shall end our fears. Dryden's Spanish Friar.There are some ideas which have admittance only through one sense, which is peculiarly adapted to receive them. Locke.
- Custom, or prerogative, of being admitted to great persons; a sense now out of use.
Now, Sir John, here is the heart of my purpose: you are a gentleman of excellent breeding, of great admittance, authentick in your place and person, generally allowed for your many warlike, courtlike, and learned preparations. Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor.
- Concession of a position.
Nor could the Pythagorean give easy admittance thereto; for, holding that separate souls successively supplied other bodies, they could hardly allow the raising of souls from other worlds. Brown's Vulgar Errours, b. i.