Elector

Also 5–6 electour. [a. L. ēlector chooser, f. ēligĕre to ELECT.]

  1.  a. gen. One who has the right to vote in election to any office or dignity. b. spec. In Great Britain and Ireland, one legally qualified to vote in the election of members of parliament; in U.S., a member of the Electoral College chosen by the several States to elect the President and Vice-President.

1467.  in Eng. Gilds (1870), 409. Þe electors to go to a new elleccioun.

1474.  Caxton, Chesse, II. ii. B iij b. For often tymes the electours and chosers can not ne wylle not accorde.

1660.  R. Coke, Power & Subj., 54. The Electors are the Instruments by which the Elected King or Monarch receives his power.

1756–7.  trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), IV. 25. The nine who draw these golden balls chuse forty other electors, all of different families.

1789.  Constit. U.S., I. § ii. The Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

1827.  Scott, Surg. Dau., i. A score or two of quiet electors, who settle the business over a table.

1861.  May, Const. Hist., I. 293. The representation of this capital city [Edinburgh] … was returned by thirty-three electors.

1874.  Bancroft, Footpr. Time, xliii. 374. An Elector … is one who has been appointed to choose or elect the President of the United States.

  † 2.  Knights Electors: the four gentlemen appointed by the sheriff to serve as members of the jury, and to elect the remaining members, in the process of trial by ‘Grand Assize.’

1628.  Coke, On Litt., 294 a. The foure Knights Electors of the grand Assise are not to be challenged.

  3.  One of the Princes of Germany formerly entitled to take part in the election of the Emperor.

1529.  Rastell, Pastyme, E iv. b. [The Emperor] dyd assocyate vnto hym Maximilyan his son by y^e consent of the electours.

1591.  L. Lloyd, Triplicitie Triumphes, E iij b. The seuen Electors hattes of Germany.

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turkes (1638), 73. Conradus Archbishop of Mogunsia another of the Electors.

1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. (1702), I. 13–4. The Prince Elector, who had … incurr’d the Ban of the Empire.

1756–7.  trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), IV. 216. The elector of Saxony.

1872.  Freeman, Gen. Sketch, xvi. § 4 (1874), 333. A new electorate of Hessen-Cassel was made, whose Elector, as it turned out, never had any one to elect.