v. Obs. rare–1. [f. Gr. χειροτονία election by show of hands, appointment (f. χειροτονεῖν to stretch out the hand, to elect by show of hands, or voting) + -IZE.] To elect by vote, to vote.
1658. J. Harrington, Prerog. Pop. Govt., I. vii. (1700), 259. If they unchirotoniz’d or unvoted God of the Kingdom, then they had chirotoniz’d or voted him to the Kingdom.
So † Chirotonia, Chirotony, election or appointment to office by vote. (Sometimes confused with ‘ordination by imposition of hands.’)
[1658. J. Harrington, Prerog. Pop. Govt., I. xii. (1700), 308. The People gave the Result of the Commonwealth by their Chirotonia, that is, by holding up their hands.]
1878. Gladstone, Gleanings, III. 262. It was the cheirotony of the Acts that expanded into lay assent in the subsequent history of the Church.
