election

election
  (ɪˈlɛkʃən)
  Forms: 4 eleccioun, -ciown, -cyoun(e, 4–6 -cion, 5–6 -cyon, (5 alexcion), 5 electyown, 6 -tyon, -tioune, -ttyon, 6– election, 9 (U.S.) 'lection.
  [a. OF. election, ad. L. ēlectiōn-em, n. of action f. ēligĕre: see elect v.]
  The action of choosing: in various specific applications.
  1. a. The formal choosing of a person for an office, dignity, or position of any kind; usually by the votes of a constituent body.

c 1270 St. Edmund in Saints' Lives (1887) 443 Þe Eleccioun was i-maud in þe chapitle at Caunterburi. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 208 To mak eleccion, To chese þe suld cheue aman of gode renoun. 1419 Bp. Clifford in Ellis Orig. Lett. ii. 29 I. 91, I..confermed the eleccion of dame Jhone North abbesse. c 1450 Erle Tolous 1202 Be alexcion of the lordys free The erle toke they thoo, They made hym ther emperoure. 1535 Coverdale Acts xiv. 23 Whan they had ordeyned them Elders by eleccion thorow all the congregacions. 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. 99 The churches haue no further power in the election of their pastor. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World ii. 365 Abimelech practised with the inhabitants of Sechem, to make election of himselfe. 1776 Gibbon Decl. & Fall vii. I. 172 In a large society the election of a monarch can never devolve to the wisest. 1845 S. Austin Ranke's Hist. Ref. I. 39 The empire..had waived the right..to interfere in the election of the pope. 1867 Bright Sp. Amer. 29 June (1876) 146 They found that the presidential election 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: an election of representatives throughout an entire country, to fill vacancies simultaneously created; opposed to by-election.

1648 Eikon Bas. 2, I was..sorry to heare with what partiality..Elections were carried in many places. 1705 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) V. 612 A writt ordered for a new election at Castle Rising. 1789 Belsham Ess. II. xli. 533 It is not infamous to be incapable of voting at a county election. 1853 Lytton My Novel ii. xxii. 379 The election..suddenly grew into vivid interest. 1874 Morley Compromise (1886) 20 At elections the national candidate has not often a chance against the local candidate.

  † c. A vote. Obs. rare.

1543–4 Act 35 Hen. VIII, c. 11 §3 The burgesses..shal..come and giue their elections.

  † d. concr. An electoral body. Obs. rare.

1529 Rastell Pastyme, Hist. Pap. (1811) 55 But parte of the eleccyon did chose one Victor.

  2. 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.

1393 Gower Conf. III. 86 Which stant in disposicion Of mannes fre election. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 321/4 Where he now resteth by his election and by the purueaunce of god. c 1510 More Picus Wks. 8/1 Which he wold chose, if he should of necessitie be driuen to that one, and at his election. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 94 b, Vsed to chose by eleccyon & full deliberacyon y⊇ thynge that is of lesse goodnes. 1602 W. Fulbecke 1st Pt. Parall. 26 Where the tenant is outlawed of felony, it is in the Lords election to haue a Writ of Escheate. 1670 Clarendon Ess. in Tracts (1727) 191 True virtue presupposeth an election. 1685 Petty Last Will 11 As for beggars by trade and election I give them nothing. 1754 Edwards Freed. Will i. iv. (1762) 26 A man has a Thing in his Power, if he has it in his Choice, or at his Election. 1788 J. Powell Devises (1827) II. 71 The enquiry, who are personally competent to make, and what amounts to such an election. 1818 Cruise Digest III. 312 Disseisins of incorporeal hereditaments are only at the election and choice of the party injured. 1859 Mill Liberty v. (1865) 59/1 So ordering matters that persons shall make their election..on their own prompting. 1873 Browning Red Cott. Nt.-Cap 120 On such a lady if election light..If henceforth ‘all the world’ she constitute For any lover.

  † b. Judicious selection; the faculty of choosing with taste or nice discrimination. Obs.

1531 Elyot Gov. (1580) 76 Election is of an excellent power and authoritie..is part and as it were a member of Prudence. 1597 Bacon Coulers Good & Evill Pref., 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. Theol. 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 mankind; 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.

1382 Wyclif Rom. ix. 11 That the purpos of God schulde dwelle vp the eleccioun [1526 Tindale, election], not of workis, but of God clepinge. 1554–9 in Songs & Ball. (1860) 3 The redemptyon and ryghte to owr fyrst electtyon. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. i. vi. §7 The..election of God went to the shepherd, and not to the tiller of the ground. 1611 Bible Rom. xi. 5. 1630 Donne Serm. xiii. 136 Prove thine Election by thy Sanctification for that is the right method. 1645 Ussher Body Div. 91 Election..is the everlasting predestination, or foreappointing of certain Angels and Men unto everlasting life. 1702 tr. Le Clerc's Prim. Fathers 354 As to Election..Pelagius believed Two sorts of it; the one to Grace and the other to Glory. 1841 Myers Cath. Th. iii. §11. 41 This process was founded upon the election and peculiar training of a single people. 1865 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. II. vii. ix. 338 The doctrine of Election..that a man's good or ill conduct is foredoomed upon him by decree of God. 1871 Morley Voltaire (1886) 2 They realised life as a long wrestling with..forces of grace, election, and fore-destiny.

  † b. concr. The body of the elect. Obs. rare.

1611 Bible Rom. xi. 7 The election hath obtained it.

  † 4. Astrol. The choice on astrological grounds of the fit time for undertaking any particular business; concr. a time so selected. Obs. exc. Hist.

c 1386 Chaucer Man of Law's T. 214 Of viage is ther noon eleccioun. 14.. Epiph. (Tundale's Vis. 103) Sowght and chosen owt by eleccion. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. i. ii. iv. vii, What is Astrology but vain elections, predictions? 1721 Bailey, Elections (among Astrologers) are certain Times pitched upon as fittest for the undertaking a particular business. 1831 Lytton Godolph. xxvii, In spite of..your ephemeris and your election of happy moments.

  † 5. The choosing of things for special purposes; spec. in Pharmacy (see quot.). Chiefly in 17th c.

1612 Woodall Surg. Mate Wks. (1653) 270 Election is of simples according to time and season wherein they are gathered. 1614 Markham Cheap Husb. (1623) 137 Doe not in the election of your Egges chuse those which are monstrous great. 1667 Dryden Ess. Dram. Poesie Dram. Wks. 1725 I. 72 An election of apt words, and a right disposition of them. 1667 Primatt City & C. Builder 51 Let the builder make election of bricks that are, etc. 1695 W. Westmacott Script. Herb. 49 In the Election of it [the herb Elaterium] the oldest is accounted the best. 1727–51 Chambers Cycl., Election..teaches how to chuse the medicinal simples, drugs, etc.

  † 6. Arith. (See quot.) Obs.

1721 Bailey, Election (in Numbers) is the several ways of taking any Number of Quantities given, without having respect to their places. 1727–51 Chambers Cycl. s.v.

  7. Law. a. In AFr. phr. Election de Clerk (rarely in Eng. form election of clerk).

1607 J. Cowell Interpr., Election de Clerke. 1721 Bailey, Election de Clerk, is a writ that lyeth for the choice of a Clerk, assigned to take and make Bonds, called Statute Merchant. 1835 Tomlins 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.

1628 Coke On Litt. 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 Jowitt 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.

  8. attrib. and Comb., as election-address, election-ale, election-cry, election-day, election dinner, election expenses, election-monger, election-vote; election-mad adj.; also election bun, cake U.S., varieties of fancy bread; election commissioner, one of a body of men appointed to inquire into corrupt practices during an election or (U.S.) to take charge of an election; election-committee, 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; election district U.S., a district created for the purposes of elections; election-dust, the commotion of an election; election petition, a petition brought against a member of parliament for illegal practices during his election campaign.

1874 Morley Compromise (1886) 124 Proper for the hustings, or expedient in an *election address.

1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) II. 571 By his elder brother's death he comes into possession of the fox hounds and the tubs of *election ale.

1860 O. W. Holmes Prof. Breakf.-t. ii. 52 [He] recollects he had a glazed *'lection bun, and sat eating it, and looking down on the Common.

1805 Pocumtuc Housewife (1906) 30 *Elections Cake. 1832 L. M. Child Amer. Frugal Housewife 71 Old-fashioned election cake is made of four pounds of flour [etc.]. 1947 R. Berolzheimer et al. U.S. Regional Cook Bk. 53 Election Cake was always served on Election Day.

1899 Kansas City 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.

1864 Times 22 Mar. 9/6 An *election committee must sit from day to day until they complete the inquiry.

1861 Dickens Gt. Expect. xviii, I doubt if the words [‘Pip’ and ‘Property’] had more in them than an *election cry.

1651 Narrative late Parlt. in Select. fr. Harl. Misc. (1793) 400 Meetings..to agree and make choice before⁓hand..and then promote their choice against the *election-day. 1648 Oldham Poems 161 (Jod.) That vile wretch..Whose works must serve the next election day For making squibs.

1751 G. Stone Let. 18 May in 9th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. iii. (1884) 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?

1799 in Deb. Congress U.S. (1851) 7th Congr. 2nd Sess. App. 1411 In every *election district in the country. 1835 Southern Lit. Messenger I. 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 Systems 19 The township or ward, is included in a number of different election districts, each of which has its own convention.

1815 Scott Guy M. xxxvi, ‘There's been nae *election-dusts lately.’

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. & 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.

1768 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) I. 493 Had I run opera-mad..or *election-mad, I might have found companions enow.

1881 Daily News 12 Feb. 6/5 This disadvantage *election-mongers would seek to remedy by running bogus candidates.

1835 J. A. Roebuck Short Rev. of 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 Vict. 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. 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.

a 1743 Savage Wks. (1775) II. 174 (Jod.), I have no power *election votes to gain.

  
  
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   Add: [8.] election fever.

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.

Oxford English Dictionary