Also 6 Sc. voitt, woit, wott; 8 whoat. [f. L. vōt-, ppl. stem of vovēre to vow, to desire, or ad. med.L. vōtāre to devote by a vow, from the same stem. Cf. It. votare, Cf. It. votare, Sp. and Pg. votar, to devote, to vote, F. voter to vote (in older use from It., in mod. use from English). Before 1600 almost exclusively a Sc. word.]
† 1. intr. To vow (to do something). Obs. rare.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, I. xv. (S.T.S.), I. 86. He votit to consecrate þe harnes and armoure of his Inemyis to þe god vulcane. Ibid., II. ix. 163. Þe dictator … votit to edifie ane tempil in þe honoure of þe god Castor.
2. refl. and trans. To assign by a vow; to devote religiously. Now rare.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, V. xix. (S.T.S.), II. 211. All þe agit pepill … votit þame self wilfully to þe deith for þe wele of þere cuntre.
1589. Warner, Alb. Eng., Prose Add. (1592), 195. The Queene … voted, euen in her better part, to the loue of Æneas.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 55. In an impiety, or (at least) temerity, of invoking, provoking, voting, devoting, imprecating.
1865. J. H. Ingraham, Pillar of Fire, I. xi. 123. To enumerate what met my eyes in the vases, which the common soldiers in their piety voted to the god,… would fill the page on which I write.
† b. To devote or consign to destruction. Obs.
1676. Glanvill, Ess. Philos. & Relig., IV. 1. The Books of curious Arts, that were voted to Destruction by Apostolick Authority and Zeal.
3. intr. To give a vote; to exercise the right of suffrage; to express a choice or preference by ballot or other approved means.
1552. in Rec. Convent. Roy. Burghs (1870), I. 3. Thair sall convene in the Tolbuyth the auld counsale and new,… and thair to begyn at the litis of provestre, and to woit about throw that haill nowmer.
1637–50. Row, Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.), 191. Because the brethren could not be fullie resolved for the present concerning the office of him who should vote in Parliament.
1651. Hobbes, Govt. & Soc., vii. § 1. 110. A Councell … of all the Citizens, (insomuch as every man of them hath a Right to Vote …) or of a part onely.
1727. Stukeley in Mem. (Surtees), 194. It will enable you however to whoat at our elections.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. I. ii. 167. The statutes … direct … that no person shall vote in right of any freehold granted to him fraudulently to qualify him to vote.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 100. With a compelled appearance of deliberation, they vote under the dominion of a stern necessity.
1845. Gladstone, Corr. Ch. & Relig. (1910), I. 343. The question on which they voted was chosen for them by the Board of Heads.
1887. Lowell, Democr., 31. The right to vote makes a safety-valye of every voter.
b. Const. against, for († to), or with inf.
1599. [see VOTE sb. 6 b].
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xviii. 88. Every one, as well he that Voted for it, as he that Voted against it, shall Authorise all the Actions and Judgements of that Man.
1681. Prideaux, Lett. (Camden), 119. The fellows almost unanimously payd their obedience to his Majestys commands and voted for Finch.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, III. 86. All vote to leave that execrable shore.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, I. iv. Mrs. Wilkins … would have voted for sending the child … immediately out of the house.
1806. Med. Jrnl., XV. 244. I would humbly propose that each subscriber … be qualified to vote for the election of a surgeon to a county hospital.
1831. Sir J. Sinclair, Corr., II. 451. I vote for the Abbé Sieyes,—whom do you vote for?
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, Introd. I. 8. Men … were conscious of having not only the right to vote, but the chance of being voted for.
† 4. a. To declare one’s opinion. Obs.–1
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 268. [When] the lord Lyndsay had wottit in this maner, the haill lordis was contentit of this conclusioun.
† b. To decide, to judge. Obs. rare.
1643. Chas. I., Lett., Wks. (1650), 230. Some finde fault with too much kindnesse to thee (thou maist easily vote from what constellation that comes).
5. trans. Of assemblies, etc.: To choose, elect, enact or establish by vote; to ratify or determine by formal expression of will.
1568. Peebles Burgh Rec. (1872), 74. The saidis baillies votit the samin be fre electioun of the haill communite.
1593. in Spalding Club Misc., I. Pref. 44. [The council] voitit, thocht guid and expedient, that the Grey freiris place thairof, sal be resignit.
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Henry VIII. (1683), 550. The Cardinal … was remoued to a Chamber apart … till the main question of the marriage was voted and agreed.
1665. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 317. It is generally voted, agreed, thought fit, and so ordered, that the keeping of the fair here on St. Martin’s day … shall … for this year be absolutely forborne and forbidden.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, IX. 298. They vote a message to their absent chief.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xxviii. III. 73. Four respectable deputations were successively voted to the Imperial court.
1817. W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4), II. 1071. Having in common council voted a petition to the king.
1841. W. Spalding, Italy & It. Isl., II. 180. Next year a parliament was summoned which … voted a new balia.
1865. Jrnl. Anthropol. Soc., III. 19. The following list of presents were read, and thanks were voted for the same.
b. Const. with inf., expressing the result of the decision.
1648. Winyard, Midsummer-Moon, 4. Thus Oxford, like the house of office at Westminster, is voted to bee reformed by those who sould it.
1648. Hamilton Papers (Camden), 168. Yett in hope of a party, they haue voted the Papists to compound.
1675. F. Ld. Aungier in Essex Papers (Camden), 25. The House of Commons after a long debate vote the said persons to be sent to ye Tower.
1729. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1886), II. 91. The motion … for voteing the aforenam’d persons to be free.
c. Const. away, from, in, into, off, etc.
1641. Sir E. Dering, in Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1692), III. I. 295. You have done exceeding well to vote away this Bishop.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. xlvii. 126. Notwithstanding the Canon that had long before this time voted the Laity from having to do with Church matters.
1649. Milton, Observ. Peace Ormond, Wks. 1851, IV. 576. They had no privilege to sit there, and vote home the Author … of all our Miseries.
1835. T. Mitchell, Acharn. of Aristoph., 530, note. Previous to his voting Agyrrius into office.
1870. Rogers, Hist. Gleanings, Ser. II. 162. The House met … and voted away their privilege in cases of libel by 258 votes to 133.
1890. Longm. Mag., July, 255. My name has been voted off the list of your committee.
refl. 1914. Times (weekly ed.), 13 March, 218. The … delimitation of the areas which may vote themselves out of Home Rule.
d. With appositive predicate.
1649. in Verney Mem. (1907), I. 443. I heare the Lords on Tuesday last voted all null since ye army siezed ye members.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 52. All the Kings commands in prosecution of the Laws, were Voted breaches of the Priviledges of Parliament.
1730. Lett. to Sir W. Strickland rel. to Coal Trade, 21. The House of Commons, after an Enquiry … voted both Lightermen, Masters and Owners guilty of a Combination.
e. With cognate object.
1871. Browning, Pr. Hohenst., Wks. 1897, II. 304/1. Divers hundred thousand fools may vote A vole untampered with by one wise man.
† 6. To submit (a matter) to a vote; to vote upon. Obs. rare.
1582–8. Hist. Jas. VI. (1804), 130. Eftir the reeding of the quhilk supplicatioun, the heads quhairoff being reassonit and voitted, it was fund … that the Queene was compellit … to subscryve the said comissioun.
1689. in Acts Parlt. Scotl. (1875), XII. 57/1. It was voted if the Committie should be named be the plurality of the whole house or be the plurality of each of the three benches.
7. To vote down, to defeat, to put down or suppress, by a vote.
1642. Laud, Wks. (1854), IV. 10. About the tenth of this month, the bishops were voted down in the Upper House.
1644–7. Cleveland, Char. Lond. Diurn., 2. And, since the Stages were voted down, the only Play-house is at Westminster.
1682. Sir T. Browne, Chr. Mor., II. § 5 (1716), 53. Old Truths voted down begin to resume their places.
1858. in Herndon, Life A. Lincoln (1892), II. 115. The idea put forth by Judge Douglas, that he ‘don’t care whether slavery is voted down or voted up.’
1882. A. Bain, Jas. Mill, vi. 268. It is the aristocracy that must, in the House, vote down the Ministry.
8. To grant, allow or confer by vote.
1710. in 14th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. IX. 352. The Tories are preparing complaints, among them one against the Admiralty for spending 500,000l. more than was voted.
1711. Swift, Examiner, No. 46, ¶ 4. The Parliament voted Subsidies, and the willing People chearfully paid them.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, IV. 91. They voted 1000 heavy infantry, 100 horse, and 50 galleys.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 510. Some among them talked of voting the revenue only for a term of years.
1873. C. Robinson, N. S. Wales, 83. The amount voted for public works in 1872 was £642,856; and this is about the amount voted by Parliament every year for public improvements.
transf. 1871. E. F. Burr, Ad Fidem, iii. 41. All the proprieties vote him a rest.
9. To declare by common assent; to characterize by an expression of opinion; to pronounce. Const. with simple compl. or inf.
1663. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xx. The old ways are much decried, and the last invention is voted to be altogether Divine.
1695. J. Edwards, Perfect. Script., 395. We may … safely vote him a true penitent.
1718. Free-thinker, No. 61. 36. Last Night, I was voted a very Impudent Fellow.
1781. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, May. He … spoke no more during the whole debate, which I am sure he was ready to vote a bore.
1812. Col. Hawker, Diary (1893), I. 40. Shooting and sport of this kind being voted a rarity at Atworth.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, V. xv. Receiving some not very encouraging response,… they voted her ladyship cursedly satirical.
1881. Punch, 31 Dec., 309/1. The fair lady’s dresses … were voted charming.
b. colloq. To propose, suggest.
1814. Scott, Wav., lxxi. I vote we should go to meet them.
1820. Shelley, Œd. Tyr., II. 122. I vote, in form of an amendment, that Purganax rub a little of that stuff Upon his face. Ibid., 127. I vote Swellfoot and Iona Try the magic test together.
C. To agree in, decide on, sending (a person) to a place.
1863. Cowden Clarke, Shaks. Char., xvii. 432. So far are we from voting him to Coventry,… there are few of us who would refuse to march through Coventry with him.
10. To influence or control in voting; to cause to vote in a particular way.
1895. Standard Dict., s.v., He votes his employees.
