I. verb
also can·vas ˈkanvəs, -ˈaa-
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: canvas (I)
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to toss in or as if in a canvas sheet by way of sport or punishment
I'll canvass thee between a pair of sheets — Shakespeare
2.
a. obsolete : to knock about : beat , trounce
b. archaic : to lash with criticism or invective : castigate
the ribald style in which Martin Marprelate canvassed the bishops — E.K.Chambers
3.
a. : to examine in detail : subject to scrutiny or investigation ; specifically : to examine (votes) officially for authenticity
b. : discuss , debate
canvassed all the items on the agenda
4. archaic : to strive after (as approval)
kings sometimes canvassed that title for themselves — Oliver Goldsmith
5.
a. : to go through (a district) or go to (persons) to solicit orders, subscriptions, or advertising
b. : to cover (a district) or go to (persons) to solicit political support or to try to ascertain the probable vote before an election
the candidate is canvassing the farm belt this week
c. : to determine the opinions or sentiments of (as the members of a club or the staff of an institution) especially by informal questioning : poll
the faculty was canvassed on its preferences in teaching schedules
6. chiefly Britain
a. : to put forward (as a plan or an idea)
b. : spread , circulate
canvassing rumors
intransitive verb
1. : debate , discuss
2.
a. : to seek orders, contributions, support, subscriptions, or advertising : solicit
canvass for a newspaper
canvass in behalf of a charity
b. : to solicit votes or seek political support in an election campaign
canvass for a seat in Parliament
II. noun
( -es )
1.
a. : a detailed examination especially by means of discussion or debate : full discussion
learned canvasses of the deep points of divinity — Joseph Hall
b. : a scrutiny especially of votes
a canvass of the election returns
2. : the act or action of canvassing
a house-to-house canvass
as
a. : the personal solicitation of votes
b. : a survey to ascertain the probable vote before an election
III.
variant of canvas