electionn.
/ᵻˈlɛkʃn/, U.S. /əˈlɛkʃən/, /iˈlɛkʃən/ The action of choosing: in various specific applications.† 4. Astrology. The choice on astrological grounds of the fit time for undertaking any particular business; concrete a time so selected. Obsolete exc. Historical.† 5. The choosing of things for special purposes; spec. in Pharmacy (see quot.). Chiefly in 17th cent.† 6. Arithmetic. (See quot.) Obsolete.
1. † c. A vote. Obsolete. rare.† d. concrete. An electoral body. Obsolete. rare.
a. The formal choosing of a person for an office, dignity, or position of any kind; usually by the votes of a constituent body.
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society > authority > office > appointment to office > choosing or fact of being chosen for office > [noun]
electionc1270
lectiona1300
electc1425
electing1611
c1270 St. Edmund in Saints' Lives (1887) 443 Þe Eleccioun was i-maud in þe chapitle at Caunterburi.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 208 To mak eleccion, To chese þe suld cheue aman of gode renoun.
1419 Bp. Clifford in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. ii. 29 I. 91 I..confermed the eleccion of dame Jhone North abbesse.
c1450 Erle Tolous 1202 Be alexcion of the lordys free The erle toke they thoo, They made hym ther emperoure.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Acts xiv. D Whan [Whā in text] they had ordeyned them Elders by eleccion thorow all the congregacions.
1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. N7v The churches haue no further power in the election of their pastor.
1614 W. Raleigh Hist. World i. ii. xiii. §7. 432 Abimelech..practised with the inhabitants of Sechem..to make election of himselfe.
1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. vii. 172 In a large society the election of a monarch can never devolve to the wisest.
1845 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany (ed. 2) I. 39 The empire..had waived the right..to interfere in the election of the pope.
1868 J. Bright Speeches Public Policy I. 289 They found that the presidential election of 1860 was adverse to the cause of slavery.
b. spec. The choice by popular vote of members of a representative body (in the United Kingdom, chiefly of members of the House of Commons); the whole proceedings accompanying such a choice. general election n. an election of representatives throughout an entire country, to fill vacancies simultaneously created; opposed to by-election n.
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society > authority > office > appointment to office > choosing or fact of being chosen for office > election of representative body by vote > [noun]
election1649
1649 Εἰκων Βασιλικη 2 I was..sorry to heare with what partiality..Elections were carried in many places.
1705 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) V. 612 A writt ordered for a new election at Castle Rising.
1789 W. Belsham Ess. II. xli. 533 It is not infamous to be incapable of voting at a county election.
1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel IV. xii. xxii. 160 The election..suddenly grew into vivid interest.
1874 J. Morley On Compromise 16 At elections the national candidate has no chance against the local candidate.
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the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > expression of choice by some approved method > [noun] > a vote
voicea1325
votec1478
suffragea1535
election1543
verdict1580
tonguea1616
proxy1660
preferendum1970
1543–4 Act 35 Hen. VIII c. 11 §3 The burgesses..shal..come and giue their elections.
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society > authority > office > appointment to office > choosing or fact of being chosen for office > [noun] > elector > electoral body
election?1530
electoral collegea1691
?1530 J. Rastell Pastyme of People sig. *Bi But parte of the eleccyon dyd chose one Victor.
2. † b. Judicious selection; the faculty of choosing with taste or nice discrimination. Obsolete.
a. The exercise of deliberate choice or preference; choice between alternatives, esp. in matters of conduct. †at or in (one's) election: at (one's) option or discretion.
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the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > [noun]
curec1000
custOE
chirec1175
choosingc1200
choice1297
walea1352
dilection1388
election1393
elect1398
choose1430
option1549
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 86 Which stant in disposicion Of mannes fre election.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 321/4 Where he now resteth by his election and by the purueaunce of god.
?1510 T. More tr. G. F. Pico della Mirandola Lyfe I. Picus sig. b.vi Which he wolde chese if he shuld of necessite be dryuen to that one & at his election.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. aviv Vsed to chose by election & full delyberacion, ye thyng yt is of lesse goodnesse.
1602 W. Fulbecke Parallele or Conf. Law i. 26 Where the tenant is outlawed of felony, it is in the Lords election to haue a Writ of Escheate.
1670 Earl of Clarendon Ess. in Tracts (1727) 191 True virtue presupposeth an election.
1685 W. Petty Will 11 As for beggars by trade and election I give them nothing.
1754 J. Edwards Careful Enq. Freedom of Will i. iv. 26 A Man has a Thing in his Power, if he has it in his Choice, or at his Election.
1804 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. III. 346 Disseisins of incorporeal hereditaments are only at the election and choice of the party injured.
1827 T. Jarman Powell's Ess. Learning of Devises (ed. 3) II. 71 The enquiry, who are personally competent to make, and what amounts to such an election.
1859 J. S. Mill On Liberty v. 179 So ordering matters that persons shall make their election..on their own prompting.
1873 R. Browning Red Cotton Night-cap Country ii. 120 On such a lady if election light..If henceforth ‘all the world’ she constitute For any lover.
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the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [noun] > delicacy of
subtletya1450
subtility1494
election1531
fineness1561
finesse1564
delicacy1678
subtlety1728
nicety1780
subtleness1872
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. xxv. sig. Mij Election is of an excellent powar & autoritie,..is part, and as it were a membre of prudence.
1597 F. Bacon Of Coulers Good & Euill f. 17v, in Ess. The discouering..of these coulers..cleareth mans iudgement and election.
1602 W. Fulbecke Pandectes 63 I know not whether Ouid his inuention, or Sir Phillippes election be more to be commended.
3. Theology.† b. concrete. The body of the elect. Obsolete. rare.
a. The exercise of God's sovereign will in choosing some of His creatures in preference to others for blessings temporal or spiritual, esp. for eternal salvation. doctrine of election: the doctrine that God actually exercises this prerogative with regard to humankind; in popular language often identified with the (Calvinistic) doctrine of ‘unconditional election’, i.e. election not conditioned by the conduct or disposition of the individual.
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society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > salvation, redemption > [noun]
healnessc897
heal901
alesenesseOE
lesenessOE
alesendnessOE
healthc1000
alesednessOE
berrhlessc1175
i-sundungc1175
salvation?c1225
buyinga1300
savementc1330
yborȝing1340
election1382
savinga1387
safetyc1390
soul healtha1393
redemptiona1400
safenessa1400
curation?c1400
predestinationc1400
gain-buying1435
dilection1570
expeccationa1631
unsinninga1631
soul-savingness1672
inner light1856
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Rom. ix. 11 That the purpos of God schulde dwelle vp the eleccioun [1526 Tindale, election], not of workis, but of God clepinge.
?a1560 in T. Wright Songs & Ballads Reign Philip & Mary (1860) 3 The redemptyon and ryghte to owr fyrst electtyon.
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. H1v The..election of God went to the Shepheard, and not to the tiller of the ground. View more context for this quotation
1611 Bible (King James) Rom. xi. 5.
a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1958) IX. 231 Prove thine election by thy sanctification; for that is the right method.
1645 J. Ussher Body of Divinitie 91 Election..is the everlasting predestination, or foreappointing of certain Angels and Men unto everlasting life.
1701 tr. J. Le Clerc Lives Primitive Fathers 354 As to Election,..Pelagius believed Two sorts of it; the one to Grace, and the other to Glory.
1841–8 F. Myers Catholic Thoughts II. iii. §11. 41 This process was founded upon the election and peculiar training of a single people.
1858 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia II. vii. ix. 281 The doctrine of Election..that a man's good or ill conduct is foredoomed upon him by decree of God.
1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 2 They realised life as a long wrestling with..forces of grace, election, and fore-destiny.
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society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > salvation, redemption > [noun] > person > collective
sheepc825
chosenc1200
heritagea1340
markedc1350
Israel1382
peculiar peoplea1513
forechosen1577
peculiar1610
election1611
predestinated1626
peculiar racea1657
1611 Bible (King James) Rom. xi. 7 The election hath obtained it. View more context for this quotation
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the world > the universe > astrology > judicial astrology > judgement > [noun] > choice
electionc1386
c1386 G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale 214 Of viage is ther noon eleccioun.
14.. Epiph. in Tundale's Vis. 103 Sowght and chosen owt by eleccion.
1624 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 2) i. ii. iv. vii. 148 What is..Astrologie, but vaine elections, predictions[?].
1721 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. Elections (among Astrologers) are certain Times pitched upon as fittest for the undertaking a particular business.
1833 E. Bulwer-Lytton Godolphin II. i. 33 In spite of..your ephemeris, and your election of happy moments.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > types of choice > [noun] > selecting from a number or for a purpose
cullingc1440
outchoosing1440
election1614
singling1625
selection1650
hand-walinga1665
1614 G. Markham Cheape & Good Husb. (1623) 137 Doe not in the election of your Egges chuse those which are monstrous great.
1617 J. Woodall Surgions Mate Termes 342 Election is of simples according to time & season wherin they are gathered.
1668 J. Dryden Of Dramatick Poesie 61 An election of apt words, and a right disposing of them.
?1677 S. Primatt City & Covntry Purchaser & Builder 51 Let the builder make election of bricks that are, etc.
1694 W. Westmacott Θεολοβοτονολογια 49 In the Election of it [sc. the herb Elaterium] the oldest is accounted the best.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word) Election, is also a Part of Pharmacy, being that which teaches how to chuse simple Medicaments, Drugs, &c.
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1721 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. Election (in Numbers) is the several ways of taking any Number of Quantities given, without having respect to their places.
1779 A. Rees Chambers's Cycl. (new ed.) II Election, of numbers, or quantities, in Arithmetic and Algebra, denotes the different method of taking any numbers of quantities given..or it is the sum of all the combinations that can be made with a different number of quantities, in each set of combinations, out of any number of quantities proposed.
7. Law.
a. In Anglo-French phrase Election de Clerk (rarely in English form election of clerk).
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1607 J. Cowell Interpreter sig. Bb1v/2 Election de Clerke..is a writ, that lyeth for the choyce of a clerke, assigned to take and make bonds called statute Merchant.
1721 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. Election de Clerk, is a writ that lyeth for the choice of a Clerk, assigned to take and make Bonds, called Statute Merchant.
1835 T. E. Tomlins Jacob's Law-dict. (ed. 4) Election of Clerk.
b. The choosing between two rights by a person who derives one of them under an instrument in which a clear intention appears that he should not enjoy both.
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1628 E. Coke 1st Pt. Inst. Lawes Eng. ii. xii. ccxix. 145a If a man granteth a Rent..or a robe to one and to his heires, the Grantor shall haue the election, for he is the first Agent, by payment of the one, or deliuerie of the other.
1891 G. Serrell Equitable Doctrine Election 6 Election is often said to rest on an implied condition.
1959 Earl Jowitt & C. Walsh Dict. Eng. Law I. 699/2 The equitable doctrine of election is founded on the principle that there is an implied condition that he who accepts a benefit under an instrument must adopt the whole of it, conforming with all its provisions and renouncing every right inconsistent with them.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a.
election-address n.
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1874 J. Morley On Compromise 97 Proper for the hustings, or expedient in an election address.
election-ale n.
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a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. iv. 190 By his elder brother's death he comes into possession of the fox hounds, and the tubs of election ale.
election-cry n.
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1861 C. Dickens Great Expectations xviii, in All Year Round 9 Feb. 413/1 I doubt if they [sc. the words ‘Pip’ and ‘Property’] had more meaning in them than an election cry.
election-day n.
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1658 Narr. Late Parl. 2 Meetings..to agree, and make Choise before hand..and then promote their Choise against the Election Day.
1683 J. Oldham Poems & Transl. 167 That vile Wretch..Whose Works must serve the next Election-day For making Squibs.
election dinner n.
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1751 G. Stone Let. 18 May in 9th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1884) App. iii. 40/2 Of the two sorts of champagne that sealed with yellow wax might go off at balls... The red wax is too bad for an election dinner at Dover.
1839 R. Peel Let. 8 Dec. in Corr. C. Arbuthnot (1941) 212 May not a half-pay captain stand a contested election—or may not he be present at his brother's election dinner?
election expenses n.
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1859 J. S. Mill Parl. Reform 19 Let law and opinion conspire to the end that election expenses be suppressed.
1869 W. F. Collier Let. 28 Mar. in B. Russell & P. Russell Amberley Papers (1937) II. 159 You are fully aware that my views with respect to Election expenses are very nearly identical with your own.
election-monger n.
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1881 Daily News 12 Feb. 6/5 This disadvantage election-mongers would seek to remedy by running bogus candidates.
election-vote n.
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a1743 R. Savage Wks. (1775) II. 174 I have no pow'r, election-votes to gain.
b.
election-mad n.
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1768 A. Tucker Light of Nature (1852) I. 493 Had I run opera-mad..or election-mad, I might have found companions enow.
C2.
election bun n.
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1860 O. W. Holmes Professor at Breakfast-table ii. 52 [He] recollects he had a glazed 'lection bun, and sat eating it, and looking down on the Common.
election cake n. U.S. varieties of fancy bread.
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1805 New Amer. Cookery 63 Election Cake... Thirty quarts flour, 10 pounds butter, 14 pound sugar, 12 pound raisins, 3 dozen eggs, one pint wine, 1 quart brandy, [etc.].
1831 Mackenzie's 5,000 Receipts (new U.S. ed.) 414/2 Election-cake.
1869 H. B. Stowe Oldtown Folks v. 48 Aunt Nancy Prime, famous for making election-cake and ginger-pop.
1897 Pocumtuc Housewife 30 Election Cake.
1947 R. Berolzheimer et al. U.S. Regional Cook Bk. 53 Election Cake was always served on Election Day.
election commissioner n. one of a body of men appointed to inquire into corrupt practices during an election or (U.S.) to take charge of an election.
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1899 Kansas City (Missouri) Star 17 Feb. 1/3 He said that Julius Wurzberger, an election commissioner of St. Louis,..had spent $10 getting him drunk.
1902 Encycl. Brit. XXVI. 369/1 A prosecution for any of the above offences cannot be instituted more than a year after the offence was committed, unless an inquiry by Election Commissioners takes place.
election-committee n. a committee formed to promote the election of a particular candidate; also (before the Election Petitions Act of 1868) a committee of the House of Commons appointed to inquire into the validity of controverted elections.
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1864 Times 22 Mar. 9/6 An election committee must sit from day to day until they complete the inquiry.
election court n. a court for the election of magistrates or officers.
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a1656 W. Bradford Plymouth Plantation (1856) ii. 189 At ye spring of ye year, about ye time of their Election Court, Oldam came againe amongst them.
1685 S. Sewall Diary I. 12 They would have had them made a report..next Tuesday, but agreed to be next Election Court.
election district n. U.S. a district created for the purposes of elections.
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1799 in Deb. Congr. U.S. (1851) 7th Congress 2nd Sess. App. 1411 In every election district in the country.
1835 Southern Literary Messenger 1 218 One or two..get a resolution passed for a general caucus of the whole party, in the town, or election district.
1902 E. C. Meyer Nominating Syst. 19 The township or ward, is included in a number of different election districts, each of which has its own convention.
election-dust n. the commotion of an election.
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1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 275 There's been nae election-dusts lately.
election petition n. a petition brought against a member of parliament for illegal practices during his election campaign.
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1835 J. A. Roebuck Short Rev. Long Session 9/1 Connected with this matter of elections was one peculiar and distinguishing work of this Parliament—I mean Election Petitions.
1839 Act 2 & 3 Victoria c. 38 (title) An Act to amend the Jurisdiction for the Trial of Election Petitions.
1840 Penny Cycl. XVII. 278/2 In 1741, Sir Robert Walpole..was..driven from office by a vote upon the Chippenham election petition.
1868 Act 31 & 32 Victoria c. 125 § 11 The Trial of every Election Petition shall be conducted before a Puisne Judge of One of Her Majesty's Superior Courts of Common Law.
1885 Encycl. Brit. XVII. 705/1 By the Act of 1879 the trial of an election petition is conducted before two judges instead of one, as before.
election sermon n. U.S. one delivered on the occasion of an election.
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1644 Rec. Mass. Bay (1853) II. 71 The printer shall have leave to print the election sermon, wth Mr Mathers consent.
1685 S. Sewall Diary I. 92 This day his Election Sermon came out.
Draft additions 1993
election fever n.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > office > appointment to office > choosing or fact of being chosen for office > election of representative body by vote > [noun] > obsession with or excitement about
poll evil1794
election fever1885
1885 Lancet 28 Nov. 1012/1 ‘Election Fever.’ This suggested addition to the nosological table may seem fanciful, but it is the simple expression of a fact.
1991 Times 13 Sept. 10/3 The prime minister's reference to ‘frenetic spasms’ of election fever may have troubled whoever had to dub his replies back into French.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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