ELEC'TION, noun [Latin electio.] The act of choosing; choice; the act of selecting one or more from others. Hence appropriately, 1. The act of choosing a person to fill an office or employment, by any manifestation of preference, as by ballot, uplifted hands or viva voce; as the election of a king, of a president, or a mayor. Corruption in elections is the great enemy of freedom. 2. Choice; voluntary preference; free will; liberty to act or not. It is at his election to accept or refuse. 3. Power of choosing or selecting. 4. Discernment; discrimination; distinction. To use men with much difference and election is good. 5. In theology, divine choice; predetermination of God, by which persons are distinguished as objects of mercy, become subjects of grace, are sanctified and prepared for heaven. There is a remnant according to the election of grace. Romans 11:5. 6. The public choice of officers. 7. The day of a public choice of officers. 8. Those who are elected. The election hath obtained it. Romans 11:5.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI