canvass
/ˈkænvəs/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.81 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To thoroughly examine or investigate (something) physically or by discussion; to debate, to gather opinion, to scrutinize.
Transitive verb
verb
To scrutinize (the ballot in an election or the votes cast) and reject irregular votes; also, to challenge or dispute (an election result).
Transitive verb
verb
To seek or solicit donations, information, opinions, support, etc. from (people or a place)
Transitive verb
verb
To seek the support of (voters or a constituency) in a forthcoming election or poll through personal solicitation or public addresses.
Transitive verb
Example Sentences
- "And with the aunſwere here vpon eftſoones in hand they go, / The doubtfull wordes wherof they ſcan and canuas to and fro."
- "Vpon feſtiuall dayes he goes to Court, & ſalutes without reſaluting: at night in an Ordinary he canuaſſeth the buſineſſe in hand, and ſeems as conuerſant with all intents and plots as if he begot them."
- "[T]aking ſome things vpon the report of my Sences, & vvorking out other things that vvere of a mixt nature, by way of Dialogue with mine ovvne ſelfe; yea and taking particular notice and tale of the Reporters themſelues; & anon throughly canuaſſing ouer thoſe other things layd vp in the large treaſury of my memory, ſtoring vp ſome of them there againe, and for my vſe dravving out the reſt."
- "Look into the vvord of God, and you ſhall find that it hath very much exerciſed the thoughts of the righteous, and Seneca the Philoſopher, canvaſſeth this grand Caſe, how it ſhould come to paſs that the vvicked proſpered."
- "I have made careful ſearch on all hands, and canvaſs’d the Matter with all poſſible Diligence, […]"
- "They think marriage with a worthy man of your own faith, would tend to eſtabliſh it. You think aſſuming the veil the only expedient. This ſubject has been much canvaſſed."
Etymology
The verb is derived from canvas (“type of coarse cloth woven from hemp”). The connection between “to toss (someone) in a (canvas) sheet; (by extension) to batter, beat, or thrash (someone or something); etc.” and “to seek the support of voters or a constituency in a forthcoming election or poll” is not entirely clear. The noun is derived from the verb. It has been suggested that noun sense 4.2 (“rejection (at an election, of a suit, etc.)”) may refer to the canvas bag used by journeymen mechanics which they used to pack up their tools after they had completed their jobs, in which case it is not derived from the verb but directly from canvas (noun).
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈkænvəs/
- British English: /ˈkænvəs/