Noah Webster
Majority
MAJOR'ITY, noun
1. The greater number; more than half; as a majority of mankind; a majority of votes in Congress. A measure may be carried by a large or small majority
2. Full age; the age at which the laws of a country permit a young person to manage his own affairs. Henry III. had no sooner come to his majority than the barons raised war against him.
3. The office, rank or commission of a major.
4. The state of being greater.
It is not a plurality of parts, without majority of parts. [Not used.]
5. [Latin majores.] Ancestors; ancestry. [Not used.]
6. Chief rank. [Not used.]