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Caucus
Definitions
- 1 A usually preliminary meeting of party members to nominate candidates for public office or delegates to be sent to a nominating convention, or to confer regarding policy. Canada, Israel, Pakistan, South-Africa, US, Zimbabwe, archaic
"He conferred with Mr. Warren of Plymouth upon the necessity of giving into spirited measures, and then said, "Do you keep the committee in play, and I will go and make a caucus against the evening; and do you meet me.""
- 2 a closed political meeting wordnet
- 3 A grouping of all the members of a legislature from the same party. Canada, Israel, Pakistan, South-Africa, US, Zimbabwe, archaic
- 4 A political interest group by members of a legislative body. Canada, Israel, Pakistan, South-Africa, US, Zimbabwe, archaic
- 1 To meet and participate in a caucus. Canada, Israel, Pakistan, South-Africa, US, Zimbabwe, archaic
"Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut said yesterday that he will caucus with Senate Democrats in the new Congress, but he would not rule out switching to the Republican caucus if he starts to feel uncomfortable among Democrats."
- 2 meet to select a candidate or promote a policy wordnet
- 3 To confer. Canada, Israel, Pakistan, South-Africa, US, Zimbabwe, archaic, broadly, informal, intransitive
"The protesters caucused nearby to discuss demands."
- 4 To bring into or treat in a caucus. Canada, Israel, Pakistan, South-Africa, US, Zimbabwe, archaic, transitive
"Although journalists from the private media were barred from entering the hall, different districts caucused the meeting, discussing the voting centres and other logistics."
Etymology
Unknown. Often claimed to be from an Algonquian language; transcribed words such as cawaassough and caucauasu meaning "counselor, elder, adviser" appear in early texts. A popular folk etymology attested in Great Leaders and National Issues of 1896 stated: "In the early part of the eighteenth century a number of caulkers connected with the shipping business in the North End of Boston held a meeting for consultation. That meeting was the germ of the political caucuses which have formed so prominent a feature of our government ever since its organization." American Heritage Dictionary states the term is taken from the Caucus Club of Boston in the 1760s, possibly from Medieval Latin caucus (“drinking vessel”).
Unknown. Often claimed to be from an Algonquian language; transcribed words such as cawaassough and caucauasu meaning "counselor, elder, adviser" appear in early texts. A popular folk etymology attested in Great Leaders and National Issues of 1896 stated: "In the early part of the eighteenth century a number of caulkers connected with the shipping business in the North End of Boston held a meeting for consultation. That meeting was the germ of the political caucuses which have formed so prominent a feature of our government ever since its organization." American Heritage Dictionary states the term is taken from the Caucus Club of Boston in the 1760s, possibly from Medieval Latin caucus (“drinking vessel”).
See also for "caucus"
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