[ad. L. conscrĕptiōn-em drawing up in writing, composing, a composition, a levying of troops, n. of action from conscrībĕre to CONSCRIBE.]
† 1. Writing down together, putting in writing.
1382. Wyclif, Tobit vii. 16. And the chartre taken, thei maden the conscripcioun [1388 writyng togidere] of the wedloc.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 332/4. Thus Luke had … prouffyte by conscrypcion & wrytyng of his doctryne.
† 2. Conjoint signature. Obs. rare–1.
1615. T. Adams, Black Devil, 4. They signe not … in their owne particular and singular names, but require the conscription and evident consent of their Counsell.
† 3. Enrollment or enlistment (of soldiers). Obs.
1529. Wolsey, in Burnet, Hist. Ref., I. App. II. xxiii. 65. Not having … none order, provision of victual, towardness in conscription of men of war, or appearance of such thing.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Conscription, an enrolling.
4. spec. The compulsory enlistment of men for military (or naval) service; esp. where the liability to serve is legally established; an application of this method of obtaining recruits.
The word was introduced in connection with a law of the French Republic, 5 Sept. 1798, which provided that the recruits required for service should be compulsorily obtained from the young men between the ages of twenty and twenty-five, whom it declared to be legally liable to serve in the army. Hence it has become a general term for methods of compulsory enlistment; but, technically, as distinguished from universal military service, it implies the enrollment by lot of a fixed number of those liable to service, with the option given of procuring a substitute.
1800. Weems, Washington, xvi. (1877), 236. Our persons have been free from the impressments and conscriptions.
1813. Examiner, 18 Jan., 38/2. The Conscription of 1813 has furnished 160,000 men.
1838. Arnold, Hist. Rome, I. 480. The Africans … were subject to taxes and to a conscription of their youth to serve as soldiers.
1862. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., xx. 391. Conscription is to one man personal service, to another the payment of a tax.
1878. Morley, Diderot, I. 208. Peasants turned lackeys to escape the conscription, just as in our own days they turn priests.
attrib. 1863. Illust. Lond. News, XLII. 551/1. The Federal Government intends to commence the enforcement of the Conscription Act at once.
fig. 1814. Q. Rev., XI. 96. The conscription of ancient and vulgar terms to the service of poetry.
b. The body of conscripts collectively.
1823. Southey, Hist. Penins. War, I. 115. General Clarke … advised that the conscription for the year 1809 should be called out.
