vote English · revision 2579

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1300|origins=la vovēre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /vəʊt/, US /voʊt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|vote]], first Scots,^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) [[bor|la|vōtum|t=a vow, wish, promise, dedication]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) the noun use of the neuter of [[m|la|vōtus]], past participle of [[m|la|voveō|t=to promise, dedicate]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(COED 2004) It is a doublet of [[vow]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and the same Latin word gave [[votive]], [[devout]] and [[devotion]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A vow or wish: probably before 1300.^(Barnhart 1988) The OED's earliest quotations, in Scots, are from 1533.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense of a formal expression of one's wish or choice on a proposal or candidate is from the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline) first in Scots.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) The verb meant “to vow” in the mid-15th century;^(Etymonline) “to give one's vote” is from the 1550s^(Etymonline) or 1552,^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) and “to enact by vote” from the 1560s.^(Etymonline) “An ardent wish” was common in 1630–60 and is now obsolete.^(OED 1989) A ballot, the means of voting, is by 1817, and the votes of a class collectively, as in ''the farm vote'', by 1888.^(Etymonline) ''Vote with one's feet'' is from 1965.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – a vow.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-15th century – an expression of choice.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1552 – verb, to vote.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1817 – a ballot.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1888 – a body of voters.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1965 – ''vote with one's feet''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A formal expression of preference for a candidate or on an issue.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # The means of expressing it, such as a ballot or raised hand; the right to vote.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # The number of votes cast; a group of voters: ''the youth vote''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To express one's preference in a vote; to cast a vote.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To decide, elect or enact by vote.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To declare by general consent.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[votable]]

+ * [[voter]]

+ * [[revote]]

+ * [[voteless]]

+ * [[vote-getter]]

+ * [[outvote]]

+ * [[prevote]]

+ * [[unvoted]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vow]]

+ * [[votive]]

+ * [[devote]]

+ * [[devout]]

+ * [[devotion]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}