Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MIS'SION, n. [missio, from mitto, to send.]

1. A sending or being sent, usually the latter; a being sent or delegated by authority, with certain powers for transacting business; commission; as, sent on a foreign mission. How to begin, how to accomplish best / His end of being on earth, and mission high. Milton.
2. Persons sent; any number of persons appointed by authority to perform any service; particularly, the persons sent to propagate religion, or evangelize the heathen. The societies for propagating the Gospel have missions in almost every country. Last week a mission sailed for the Sandwich Isles. We have domestic missions and foreign missions.
3. Dismission; discharge from service; a Roman use of the word; in English, obsolete. Bacon.
4. Faction; party. [Not in use.] Shak.