Election

Forms: 4 eleccioun, -ciown, -cyoun(e, 4–6 -cion, 5–6 -cyon, (5 alexcion), 5 electyown, 6 -tyon, -tioune, -ttyon, 6– election. [a. OF. election, ad. L. ēlectiōn-em, n. of action f. ēligĕre: see ELECT v.]

  The action of choosing: in various specific applications.

  1.  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. N vij a–b. 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. & F., vii. I. 172. In a large society the election of a monarch can never devolve to the wisest.

1845.  Sarah Austin, trans. 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), 146/2. They found that the presidential election of 1860 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, B i. But parte of the eleccyon dyd chose one Uictor, whiche was called the Antepape.

  2.  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^e thynge that is of lesse goodnes.

1601–2.  Fulbecke, 1st Pt. Parall., 26 b. Where the tenant is outlawed of felonie, it is in the Lords election to haue a writ of Escheate.

1670.  Clarendon, Ess., in Tracts (1727), 191. True Virtue pre-supposeth 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.  Fulbecke, Pandectes, 63. I know not whether Ouid his inuention, or Sir Phillippes election be more to be commended.

  3.  Theol. 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. H 1 b. The fauour election of God went to the Shepheard, and not to the tiller of the ground.

1611.  Bible, Rom. xi. 5. There is a remnant according to the election of grace.

1630.  Donne, Serm. (1640), 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.  trans. 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. 29. 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.

1872.  Morley, Voltaire (1886), 2. They realised life as a long wrestling with unseen and invincible 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 Lawes 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, Godolphin, 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. (1655), 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.  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, &c.

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

1607.  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 a Clerk.

  8.  attrib. and Comb., as election-address, -ale, -cry, -day, -monger, -vote; election-mad adj.; also 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-dust, the commotion of an election.

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

1768–74.  Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 571. By his elder brother’s death he comes into possession of the fox hounds, and the tubs of *election ale.

1864.  Times, 22 March, 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), 400/2. Meetings … to agree and make choice beforehand among themselves, and then promote their choice against the *election-day.

a. 1683.  Oldham, Wks. (1684) 167 (Jod.). That vile Wretch … Whose Works must serve the next Election-day For making Squibs.

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

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.

a. 1743.  Savage, Wks. (1775), I. 174 (Jod.).