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It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American Dictionary of the English language; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, and it is desirable to perpetuate that sameness, yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas; and if the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language. |
ELECT'OR, n. One who elects, or one who has the right of choice; a person who has,by law or constitution, the right of voting for an officer, In free governments, the people or such of them as possess certain qualifications of age, character and property, are the electors of their representatives, &c., in parliament, assembly, or other legislative body. In the United States, certain persons are appointed or chosen to be electors of the president or chief magistrate. In Germany, certain princes were formerly electors of the emperor, and elector was one of their titles, as the elector of Saxony.
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.
Hence, specifically, in any country, a
person legally qualified to vote.
In the old German empire, one of the
princes entitled to choose the emperor.
One of the persons chosen, by vote of the
people in the United States, to elect the President and Vice
President.
Pertaining to an election or to
electors.
In favor of the electoral and other princes. Burke. Electoral college, the body of princes formerly entitled to elect the Emperor of Germany; also, a name sometimes given, in the United States, to the body of electors chosen by the people to elect the President and Vice President. | ||||||||