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The act of choosing; choice; selection.

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.

One who electioneers.

An election held by itself, not at the time of a general election.

Failure of election.

Election beforehand.

A lecture or discourse read in public or to a select company. "The prelections of Faber." Sir M. Hale.

Election a second time, or anew; as, the reëlection of a former chief.

That which is selected; a collection of things chosen; as, a choice selection of books. Natural selection. (Biol.) See under Natural.

A miscellaneous collection of notes, remarks, or selections; a commonplace book; also, commentaries or notes. These parchments are supposed to have been St. Paul's adversaria. Bp. Bull.

Relating to analects; made up of selections; as, an analectic magazine.

Formerly, a hymn sung in alternate parts, in present usage, a selection from the Psalms, or other parts of the Scriptures or the liturgy, set to sacred music.

A service book containing a selection of pieces for the festival services.

One taken at random rather than by selection; anybody.

seek what satisfies the wants of its organism. These lacteals have mouths, and by animal selection or appetency the absorb such part of the fluid as is agreeable to their palate. E. Darwin.

A system of balloting or voting in public elections, originally used in South Australia, in which there is such an arrangement for polling votes that secrecy is compulsorily maintained, and the ballot used is an official ballot printed and distributed by the government.

The whole number of votes cast at an election, or in a given territory or electoral district. Ballot box, a box for receiving ballots.

Happening, or taking place, once in two years; as, a biennial election.

Political operations preceding an election; a canvass. [Cant, U. S.]

ift; to strain; to examine thoroughly; to scrutinize; as, to canvass the votes cast at an election; to canvass a district with reference to its probable vote. I have made careful search on all hands, and canvassed the matter with all possible diligence. Woodward.