[f. prec.]
1. trans. To put a veto on, to refuse consent to; to stop or block by this means: a. With reference to legislative measures or similar matters.
1708. Hearne, Collect., 1 April (O.H.S.), I. 213. Letters for degrees … vetoed by the Proctors.
1837. Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., II. 210. Mr. Monroe vetoed the bill authorising the collection of tolls for the repair of the Cumberland road.
1861. May, Const. Hist. (1863), III. xvii. 572. Measures passed by the assembly were refused by the council, or vetoed by the governor.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., I. I. vi. 74. Washington vetoed (to use the popular expression) two bills only. Ibid., App. 563. The President is permitted to veto any particular item.
b. In general use.
1879. E. K. Bates, Egypt. Bonds, I. vii. 146. Fred’s common sense vetoes this suggestion at once.
1886. H. F. Lester, Under two Fig Trees, 7. The area garden plan was unanimously vetoed.
1902. Buchan, Watcher by Threshold, 182. I proposed shooting, which he promptly vetoed.
transf. 1871. E. F. Burr, Ad Fidem, iv. 66. [God] will be hampered by no necessity of general laws. The nature of free moral agents will not veto His activity.
2. To refuse to admit or accept (a person).
1885. Graphic, 24 Jan., 74/2. The right of vetoing persons whom they deemed ineligible.
1891. Spectator, 21 March. The power of choosing their own Prime Minister, and … the power of immediately vetoing and removing him.
Hence Vetoed ppl. a.; Vetoing vbl. sb. and ppl. a. Also Vetoer, one who vetoes.
1893. Sir A. Gordon, Earl of Aberdeen, vi. 144. Another vetoed minister … applied to the Court of Session to issue a similar decree to the Presbytery of Strathbogie on his behalf.
1867. The Statesman (Yonkers, NY), 1 Aug., 4/1. His [the U.S. President’s] greatness, as a vetoer, consists in the number and length of his vetoes, and the able sophistry with which, in his vetoes, he rings the changes on a single point.
1888. New York Weekly Tribune, 24 Oct., 1 (Cent.). *Vetoer.
1892. Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, 27 Sept. Cleveland’s record as a vetoer of pension bills.
1867. Latham, Black & White, 72. The President … used his pardoning and his *vetoing powers.
1890. Daily News, 12 July, 5/5. A total of 433 Presidential vetoings in the century 1789–1889.
1892. Pall Mall G., 18 Feb., 2/2. The committee suggested the establishment of a controlling and vetoing body.
