nunc dimittis

[Lat.=now thou sendest away.] The name given to the canticle of Simeon (Luke ii. 29-32), from the first two words of the Latin version. The expre ion is used=dismi al. nun-che on, nun-chi on, *nun-tion, *noonshun, *noon-chi on, *none-chenche, s. [Mid. Eng. none noon, and schenche a pouring out or distribution of drink, from schenchen to pour out pour out, to give, to present; Dan. skienke; Ger. drink; A. S. scencan; cogn. with Dut. schenken to schenken. The A. S. scencan is a causal verb from scanc, sceanc =a shank, a hollow bone, and hence a pipe, as a pipe thrust into a cask to draw off liquor. ( Skeat.)] 1. A meal taken about noon; a luncheon, a lunch. "They took their breakfasts or their nuncheons." Butler: Hudibras, i. 1. 2. A piece or share of food such as might serve for a luncheon. *nun'-çi-ate (orças sh), s . [Lat. nunciatus, nuntiatus , pa. par. of nuncio, nuntio=to announce.] One who announces; a me enger, a nuncio (q. v.). "All the nunciates of th' ethereal reign, Who testified the glorious death to man." Hoole: Jerusalem Delivered , bk. xi. *nun'-çi-a-ture (orças sh), s. [ Fr.nonciature ; Sp. nunciatura ; Ital. nunziatura , from Lat. nunci . aturus , nuntiaturus , fut. part. of nuncio , nuntio =to announce.] The office of a nuncio. "The princes of Germany, who had known him during his nunciature."- Clarendon : On Papal Usurpation , ch. ix. nun-çi-ō (orças sh), s. [Ital. nuncio, nuntio; from Lat. nuntium , acc. of nuntius =a me enger; nuntio, nuncio to announce.] 1. Gen .: A me enger; one who announces; one who brings tidings. "A nuncio of more grave aspect." Shakesp.: Twelfth Night , 1. 4. 2. Specif .: A papal amba ador of the second rank, not being a cardinal, who represents the pope at a foreign court. An amba ador who is also a cardinal is styled a legate. [LEGATE.) Previously to the Council of Trent the papal nuncios acted as judges in the first instance of matters which lay within ecclesiastical jurisdiction; since that time they have been formed into a kind of court of appeal from the decisions of the respective bishops. This jurisdiction, however, holds good only in those countries which are themselves subject to the decretals and discipline of the Council of Trent. "No nuncio had been received here during the hundred and twenty-seven years which had elapsed since the death of Mary."- Macaulay : Hist . Eng ., ch. vi. nun-cle, s . [See def.). Uncle; from mine uncle , then of the pers. pron. being tacked on to the noun. (See remarks under N.) "Prythee, nuncle, tell me whether a madman be a gentleman or a yeoman."-Shakesp.: Lear , iii. 6. fnun-cu-pāte, v . t . [Lat. nuncupatus , pa. par. of nuncupo to call by name, to vow in public: nomen a name, and capio =to take.] 1. To vow publicly and solemnly. "The Gentiles nuncupated vows to them."- West field. 2. To dedicate. "You should have nuncupated this handsome monument of your skill to some great one."- Evelyn . 3. To declare orally, as a will; to dictate. "In whose presence did he nuncupate it?"- Barrow: Pope's Supremacy. †năn-cu-pā-tion, s. [Latin nuncupatio , from nuncupatus , pa. par. of nuncupo =to nuncupate (q.v.).] The act of nuncupating, naming, or dedicating.