Canvass
Canvass , transitive verb
[Old French Canabasser to examine curiously, to search or sift out; properly, to sift through canvas. See Canvas, n.]
1.
To sift; to strain; to examine thoroughly; to scrutinize; as, to canvass the votes cast at an election; to canvass a district with reference to its probable vote.
I have made careful search on all hands, and canvassed the matter with all possible diligence.
2.
To examine by discussion; to debate.
An opinion that we are likely soon to canvass.
3.
To go through, with personal solicitation or public addresses; as, to canvass a district for votes; to canvass a city for subscriptions.
Canvass , intransitive verb
To search thoroughly; to engage in solicitation by traversing a district; as, to canvass for subscriptions or for votes; to canvass for a book, a publisher, or in behalf of a charity; -- commonly followed by for.
Canvass , noun
1.
Close inspection; careful review for verification; as, a canvass of votes. — Bacon
2.
Examination in the way of discussion or debate.
3.
Search; exploration; solicitation; systematic effort to obtain votes, subscribers, etc.
No previous canvass was made for me.