Definition of "ovation"

Triumph, a Solemn Honour done to Generals after great Victories, receiving them into Town with Publick Acclamations; there were two ſorts among the Romans; the Great, that was ſimply called Tr[i]umph; and the Little called, Ovation; […] [I]t was by Special Priviledge that L. Cornelius Lentulus, Proconſul, was admitted to this Honour of an Ovation, in 553. […]

1703, “Triumph”, in An Universal, Historical, Geographical, Chronological and Poetical Dictionary, […], volumes II (M–Z), London: […] J[ohn] Hartley, […]; W. Turner, […]; and Tho[mas] Hodgson, […]

The Dictator [Mamercus Aemilius Mamercinus] was allow'd a Triumph, and [Aulus Cornelius] Coſſus an Ovation, wherein he appear'd with the Spoils of K[ing] Volumnius [i.e., Lars Tolumnius], and fix'd them as a ſolemn Offering in the Temple of Jupiter Feretrius, being the firſt Spolia Opima that had been brought thither ſince the Time of Romulus.

1711, “Italy”, in Atlas Geographicus, or, A Compleat System of Geography, Ancient and Modern. […], volume II, in the Savoy [London]: Printed by John Nutt; and sold by Benjamin Barker and Charles King […], page 1404, column 2

He who had no more than an Ovation granted him, was not crown'd with Laurel, but Myrtle: The Senate, however, and all the ſeveral Orders of Magiſtrates went to meet him. […] It was the way at firſt in Ovations for the Conqueror to go on Foot, but the Cuſtom of riding on Horſeback was afterwards introduc'd. […] Inſtead of bulls, the Victims us'd in the greater Triumphs, they had Sheep in their Ovations, or rather Rams crown'd, which were led before the Conqueror, in order to be ſacrific'd when the Proceſſion was over.

1722, [Bernard de] Montfaucon, “The Triumph for a Naval Victory. II. What the Ovatio was. III. The Ceremonies of the Ovation.”, in David Humphreys, transl., Antiquity Explained, and Represented in Sculptures, [...] Translated into English, volume III, London: Printed by J[acob] Tonson and J. Watts, book VI (Of the Marks of Victory, […]), paragraph III, pages 104–105

How attentive were the Romans to the language of ſigns! They wore garments peculiar to their different ranks and ages; they had their togas, and diſtinguiſhing ornaments of various kinds, their roſtrums, their lictors, their faſces, their crowns, ovations, triumphs, &c. all was parade and ceremony; and all had its effect on the minds of the citizens.

1763 January, [Jean-Jacques] Rousseau, “The Difference between Ancient and Modern Eloquence”, in The London Magazine: Or, Gentleman’s Monthly Intelligencer, volume XXXII, London: Printed for R[ichard] Baldwin, […], page 38

Proceede then in your bleſt Inauguration, / And celebrate this Annuall Ovation; / Whilſt you nor this way, nor to that way leane, / But ſhunne th' extreames, to keepe the golden meane.

1631, Thomas Heywood, “Vlisses [i.e., Ulysses] His Speech”, in Londons Ius Honorarium. Exprest in Sundry Triumphs, Pagiants, and Shews: At the Initiation or Entrance of the Right Honourable George Whitmore, into the Maioralty of the Famous and Farre Renowned City of London. […], printed at London: By Nicholas Okes

May 19. Oliver Cromwell Lieutenant General of the Parliament Army was then alſo created Dr. of Civil Law. […] [H]is atchievment was induſtriouſly cried up at Weſtminſter and all the Grandees of Scriptural Ovation were fitted and accommodated thereunto.

1691, columns 768–769

As when a Wolf or Fox too long does fleece / The Non-reſiſting Lambs, or Paſſive Geeſe, / The Peaſants take th' alarm, and ſeize the Foe, / And ſhouting Boys in long Ovation go: […]

1708, Thomas Brown, “[Epigrams, Poems, and Satyrs, on Sir R—— Bl——re’s King Arthur & Prince Arthur, the Satyr against Wit, and Job & Habakkuk.] Upon the Pensioners in the Parliament.”, in The Works of Mr. Thomas Brown, in Prose and Verse. Serious, Moral, & Comical. In Three Volumes. [...], 2nd edition, London: Printed by S[am] Briscoe, and sold by B. Bragg, […], page 160

I saw reverend prelates, who, tearing off their lawn, put themſelves into red coats, and ſoon obtained triumphs and ovations; while others dwindled into pariſh clerks, and village pedagogues.

1755 July 3, “Thursday, July 3, 1755”, in Adam Fitz-adam [pseudonym; Edward Moore], editor, The World, new edition, volume III, number 131, London: Printed for J[ames] Dodsley, […], published 1772, page 161

Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited.

1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., page 78

First things first – everyone at Southampton enjoyed a thrilling Euro 2020 qualifier that led to a rousing ovation for both sides at the conclusion of England's chaotic 5-3 victory.

2019 September 10, Phil McNulty, “‘England Horribly Fallible in Defence’ against Kosovo in Euro 2020 Qualifying”, in BBC Sport‎, archived from the original on 15 September 2019

[The ichneumon wasp] drops an egg. She next seeks out a small green caterpillar inhabiting the leaves of the cabbage-plant, which she punctures with her sting, yet so slightly and delicately as not to kill it; she then rolls it up into a circle, and places it in the sandy nest, immediately over the egg. She continues the same labour till she has counted twelve, and deposited twelve caterpillars, one over another; and thus repeats the process of ovation and supply, till she has exhausted herself of her entire stock of eggs.

1825 November, John Mason Good, “Art. I.—On Instinct.”, in Roderick MacLeod, John Bacot, editors, The London Medical and Physical Journal. […], volume LIV, number 4, London: Printed for the proprietors, by J. and C. Adlard, […]; published by J. Souter, […], page 363

Having considered their animal nature, and their primary formation, as involving the question of spontaneous generation, he described generally the methods of reproduction adopted in this class of animals, and adduced the explanations and opinions offered by the best authorities on the subject, but particularly those of Bremner, [René] Lænnec, and Owen, by which acephalocystic reproduction is referred to imperfect ovation or generation.

1842 February 28, Evory Kennedy, “February 28, Rev. Humphrey Lloyd, D.D., Vice-President, in the Chair. [Paper by Evory Kennedy on the system of generation and habits of certain Acephalocysts.]”, in Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, volume II, number 33, Dublin: Printed by M[ichael] H[enry] Gill, printer to the [Royal Irish] Academy, published 1844, pages 221–222

Parthenogenetic reproduction, as a rule, takes place in the summer months, as seen in the Aphides, Crustacea (Daphnia), and Cecidomyiæ, where we see the asexual reproduction taking place during the summer, and at the approach of cold weather the process of ovation taking its place.

1892, Fred[erick] V[incent] Theobald, “The Chironomidæ, or Midges”, in An Account of British Flies (Diptera), volume I, London: Elliot Stock, […], page 203