Part 658

6. (Law) The choice, made by a party, of two alternatives, by taking one of which, the chooser is excluded from the other.

7. Those who are elected. [Obs.]

The election hath obtained it.

Rom. xi. 7.

To contest an election. See under Contest. -- To make one's election, to choose.

He has made his election to walk, in the main, in the old paths.

Fitzed. Hall.

E*lec`tion*eer" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Electionered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Electioneering.] To make interest for a candidate at an election; to use arts for securing the election of a candidate.

A master of the whole art of electioneering.

Macaulay.

E*lec`tion*eer"er (?), n. One who electioneers.

E*lect"ive (?), a. [Cf. F. électif.] 1. Exerting the power of choice; selecting; as, an elective act.

2. Pertaining to, or consisting in, choice, or right of choosing; electoral.

The independent use of their elective franchise.

Bancroft.

3. Dependent on choice; bestowed or passing by election; as, an elective study; an elective office.

Kings of Rome were at first elective; . . . for such are the conditions of an elective kingdom.

Dryden.

Elective affinity or attraction (Chem.), a tendency to unite with certain things; chemism.

E*lect"ive, n. In an American college, an optional study or course of study. [Colloq.]

E*lect"ive*ly, adv. In an elective manner; by choice.

E*lect"or (?), n. [L., fr. eligere: cf. F. électeur.] 1. One who elects, or has the right of choice; a person who is entitled to take part in an election, or to give his vote in favor of a candidate for office.

2. Hence, specifically, in any country, a person legally qualified to vote.

3. In the old German empire, one of the princes entitled to choose the emperor.

4. One of the persons chosen, by vote of the people in the United States, to elect the President and Vice President.

E*lect"or (?), a. [Cf. F. électoral.] Pertaining to an election or to electors.

In favor of the electoral and other princes.

Burke.