Etymology: < classical Latin vōtum vow made to a god, offering made in repayment of a vow, prayer, desire, hope, wish, something wished for, in post-classical Latin also (formal) indication of choice or preference (frequently from 13th cent. in British sources), collective decision, verdict (13th cent. in a British source), use as noun of neuter past participle of vovēre to vow, desire (see vote v.).Parallels in the Romance languages. Compare Middle French vote vow, wish (1476 in an apparently isolated attestation), prayer (1564), Spanish voto vow, prayer (13th cent.), formal indication of opinion expressed through a ballot, etc. (15th cent.), Portuguese voto vow, formal indication of opinion expressed through a ballot, etc. (15th cent.), Italian voto religious vow (a1321), will, wish (a1535), indication of opinion expressed in a ballot or election (a1565; after English). Semantic development. Before 1600 almost exclusively a Scots word. Uses relating to a formal record or expression of opinion in branch I. (now the only current senses) appear to reflect developments of the etymon which arose in post-classical Latin in Britain, and which are attested earliest in documents from Wales and Scotland. Corresponding senses in several of the Romance languages reflect borrowing or influence from English, e.g. French vote formal indication of assent to the election of an individual (1702 with reference to the English parliament; 1789 with reference to France). In senses relating to vows, prayers, and petitions (see branch II.), corresponding with those of classical Latin vōtum , this word was largely superseded by vow n. towards the end of the 17th cent.

Etymology: < Russian vod′, (now rare) vot′ the Votic people collectively (12th cent. in Old Russian), a derivative with suffix -′ (see discussion at Russ adj.) < the base of Votic vad′d′alain (plural vad′d′alaizõd ) self-designation, perhaps < Votic vad′d′a wedge (compare Engle n. for a possible semantic parallel), probably reflecting a Balto-Finnic borrowing from a Baltic language (compare Lithuanian vagis , Latvian vadzis hook, peg, wedge: see wedge n.). With sense A. 2 compare Votic vad′d′ā čēli Votic language.

Etymology: Partly (i) < classical Latin vōt-, past participial stem of vovēre to vow, to pray or long for, in post-classical Latin also to decide (5th cent.) < the same Italic base as Umbrian vufru that fulfils an oath < the same Indo-European base as Sanskrit vāghat (person) who sacrifices, and (with different ablaut) Vedic Sanskrit ohate commends, praises, Avestan aog- to say, speak, ancient Greek εὔχεσθαι to pray. Partly (ii) < post-classical Latin votare to devote by a vow (6th cent.), from the same stem. Compare earlier vote n.¹, vow v.¹Parallels in the Romance languages. Compare Spanish votar to make a vow or take an oath (end of the 14th cent.), to cast a vote in an election (18th cent. or earlier), Portuguese votar to vow, to put (something) to a vote, to cast a vote, to elect (someone), etc. (1676), Italian votare to consecrate or devote (something) to a god, saint, etc., as promised in a vow (c1300), to cast a vote in an election (17th cent.), etc. French voter to express one's opinion on a matter under discussion (1680 with reference to religion), to exercise one's right of suffrage in an election (1704 with reference to the British parliament; 1756 with reference to other countries) is a borrowing from English. Notes on senses and usage. Before 1600 almost exclusively a Scots word. In to vote to destruction (sense 1b) perhaps a variant or alteration of to devote to destruction (compare devote v. 3a).