to contest an election

Contest \Con*test"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Contested}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Contesting}.] [F. contester, fr. L. contestari to
   call to witness, contestari litem to introduce a lawsuit by
   calling witnesses, to bring an action; con- + testari to be a
   witness, testic witness. See {Testify}.]
   1. To make a subject of dispute, contention, litigation, or
      emulation; to contend for; to call in question; to
      controvert; to oppose; to dispute.
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            The people . . . contested not what was done.
                                                  --Locke.
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            Few philosophical aphorisms have been more frequenty
            repeated, few more contested than this. --J. D.
                                                  Morell.
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   2. To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to
      defend; as, the troops contested every inch of ground.
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   3. (Law) To make a subject of litigation; to defend, as a
      suit; to dispute or resist; as a claim, by course of law;
      to controvert.
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   {To contest an election}. (Polit.)
      (a) To strive to be elected.
      (b) To dispute the declared result of an election.

   Syn: To dispute; controvert; debate; litigate; oppose; argue;
        contend.
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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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