from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Election \E*lec"tion\, n. [F. ['e]lection, L. electio, fr.
eligere to choose out. See {Elect}, a.]
1. The act of choosing; choice; selection.
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2. The act of choosing a person to fill an office, or to
membership in a society, as by ballot, uplifted hands, or
viva voce; as, the election of a president or a mayor.
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Corruption in elections is the great enemy of
freedom. --J. Adams.
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3. Power of choosing; free will; liberty to choose or act.
"By his own election led to ill." --Daniel.
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4. Discriminating choice; discernment. [Obs.]
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To use men with much difference and election is
good. --Bacon.
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5. (Theol.) Divine choice; predestination of individuals as
objects of mercy and salvation; -- one of the "five
points" of Calvinism.
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There is a remnant according to the election of
grace. --Rom. xi. 5.
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6. (Law) The choice, made by a party, of two alternatives, by
taking one of which, the chooser is excluded from the
other.
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7. Those who are elected. [Obs.]
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The election hath obtained it. --Rom. xi. 7.
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{To contest an election}. See under {Contest}.
{To make one's election}, to choose.
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He has made his election to walk, in the main, in
the old paths. --Fitzed.
Hall.
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