Synonyms for caucus


Grammar : Noun
Spell : kaw-kuh s
Phonetic Transcription : ˈkɔ kəs


Définition of caucus

Origin :
  • "private meeting of party leaders," 1763, American English (New England), perhaps from an Algonquian word caucauasu "counselor, elder, adviser" in the dialect of Virginia, or from the Caucus Club of Boston, a 1760s social & political club whose name possibly derived from Modern Greek kaukos "drinking cup." Another old guess is caulker's (meeting) [Pickering, 1816], but OED finds this dismissable.
  • caucus: "This noun is used throughout the United States, as a cant term for those meetings, which are held by the different political parties, for the purpose of agreeing upon candidates for office, or concerting any measure, which they intend to carry at the subsequent public, or town meetings." [John Pickering, "A Vocabulary, or Collection of Words and Phrases Which Have Been Supposed to be Peculiar to the United States of America," Boston, 1816]The word caucus, and its derivative caucusing, are often used in Boston. The last answers much to what we stile parliamenteering or electioneering. All my repeated applications to different gentlemen have not furnished me with a satisfactory account of the origin of caucus. It seems to mean, a number of persons, whether more or less, met together to consult upon adopting and prosecuting some scheme of policy, for carrying a favorite point. [William Gordon, "History, Rise, Progress, and Establishment of the Independence of the United States of America," London, 1788]
  • noun group gathered to make decision
Example sentences :
  • It is felt in every caucus, in every nominating convention and at every election.
  • Extract from : « The Railroad Question » by William Larrabee
  • Their names therefore were presented to the Republican caucus in the spring of 1898.
  • Extract from : « The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV » by Various
  • Governor Tompkins was the choice of the caucus for Vice-President.
  • Extract from : « Union and Democracy » by Allen Johnson
  • The only bear-gardens in our community are the town-meeting and the caucus.
  • Extract from : « History of Woman Suffrage, Volume III (of III) » by Various
  • What on earth a lot of young ones want with a 'caucus,' beats me.
  • Extract from : « The Brass Bound Box » by Evelyn Raymond
  • The term comes from America, where caucus means a meeting simply.
  • Extract from : « The Slang Dictionary » by John Camden Hotten
  • It is whispered in the midnight caucus, and proclaimed in open day.
  • Extract from : « The Government of God » by John Taylor
  • I calclate the business of this caucus is about over, Zaanan said.
  • Extract from : « Sudden Jim » by Clarence Budington Kelland
  • It was Mr. Chamberlain's caucus system in practical and visible operation.
  • Extract from : « The Last Boer War » by H. Rider Haggard
  • He had not taken his degrees in the caucus and in hack politics.
  • Extract from : « Charles Sumner; his complete works, volume 5 (of 20) » by Charles Sumner

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