A station like the herald, Mercury. --Shak.
Their manner was to stand at prayer, whereupon their
meetings unto that purpose . . . had the names of
stations given them. --Hooker.
2. A state of standing or rest; equilibrium. [Obs.]
All progression is performed by drawing on or
impelling forward some part which was before in
station, or at quiet. --Sir T.
Browne.
3. The spot or place where anything stands, especially where
a person or thing habitually stands, or is appointed to
remain for a time; as, the station of a sentinel.
Specifically:
(a) A regular stopping place in a stage road or route; a
place where railroad trains regularly come to a stand,
for the convenience of passengers, taking in fuel,
moving freight, etc.
(b) The headquarters of the police force of any precinct.
(c) The place at which an instrument is planted, or
observations are made, as in surveying.
(d) (Biol.) The particular place, or kind of situation, in
which a species naturally occurs; a habitat.
(e) (Naut.) A place to which ships may resort, and where
they may anchor safely.
(f) A place or region to which a government ship or fleet
is assigned for duty.
(g) (Mil.) A place calculated for the rendezvous of
troops, or for the distribution of them; also, a spot
well adapted for offensive measures. --Wilhelm (Mil.
Dict.).
(h) (Mining) An enlargement in a shaft or galley, used as
a landing, or passing place, or for the accomodation
of a pump, tank, etc.
4. Post assigned; office; the part or department of public
duty which a person is appointed to perform; sphere of
duty or occupation; employment.
By spending this day [Sunday] in religious
exercises, we acquire new strength and resolution to
perform God's will in our several stations the week
following. --R. Nelson.
5. Situation; position; location.
The fig and date -- why love they to remain In
middle station, and an even plain? --Prior.
6. State; rank; condition of life; social status.
The greater part have kept, I see, Their station.
--Milton.
They in France of the best rank and station. --Shak.
7. (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.
(b) (R. C. Ch.) A church in which the procession of the
clergy halts on stated days to say stated prayers.
--Addis & Arnold.
(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 or shrines, and which are visited in
rotation, stated services being performed at each; --
called also {Station of the cross}. --Fairholt.
{Station bill}. (Naut.) Same as {Quarter bill}, under
{Quarter}.
{Station house}.
(a) The house serving for the headquarters of the police
assigned to a certain district, and as a place of
temporary confinement.
(b) The house used as a shelter at a railway station.
{Station master}, one who has charge of a station, esp. of a
railway station.
{Station pointer} (Surv.), an instrument for locating on a
chart the position of a place from which the angles
subtended by three distant objects, whose positions are
known, have been observed.
{Station staff} (Surv.), an instrument for taking angles in
surveying. --Craig.
Usage: In the United States, a stopping place on a railway
for passengers and freight is commonly called a depot:
but to a considerable extent in official use, and in
common speech, the more appropriate name, station, has
been adopted.
He gained the brow of the hill, where the English
phalanx was stationed. --Lyttelton.