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elect

noun

  1. act or process of choosing to do an action or selecting something
  2. the chosen item or candidate
  3. (unct.) mass chosen by a higher power
L320018 on Wikidata ↗

adjective

No English definition recorded for this entry.

L336383 on Wikidata ↗

verb

  1. to choose and appoint someone to a position or office, usually through a democratic process
  2. to choose to do an action or select something
L4021 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ɪˈlɛkt/ / /i-/ / /ə-/

adj

Etymology: Borrowed from Latin ēlēctus, past participle of ēligō (“to pick out, choose, elect”), from ē- (“out”) + legō (“to pick out, pick, gather, collect, etc.”); see legend. Cognate to eclectic, which is via Ancient Greek rather than Latin, hence prefix ἐκ (ek), rather than e- (from ex).

  1. Who has been elected in a specified post, but has not yet entered office.

    He is the President elect.

    She began almost to feel a dislike of Edward; and it ended, as every feeling must end with her, by carrying back her thoughts to Willoughby, whose manners formed a contrast sufficiently striking to those of his brother elect.

  2. Chosen; taken by preference from among two or more.

    colours quaint elect

    the elect angels

noun

Etymology: Borrowed from Latin ēlēctus, past participle of ēligō (“to pick out, choose, elect”), from ē- (“out”) + legō (“to pick out, pick, gather, collect, etc.”); see legend. Cognate to eclectic, which is via Ancient Greek rather than Latin, hence prefix ἐκ (ek), rather than e- (from ex).

  1. One chosen or set apart.
  2. In Calvinist theology, one foreordained to Heaven. In other Christian theologies, someone chosen by God for salvation.

    Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.

    Shall not God avenge his won elect?

verb

Etymology: Borrowed from Latin ēlēctus, past participle of ēligō (“to pick out, choose, elect”), from ē- (“out”) + legō (“to pick out, pick, gather, collect, etc.”); see legend. Cognate to eclectic, which is via Ancient Greek rather than Latin, hence prefix ἐκ (ek), rather than e- (from ex).

  1. To choose or make a decision (to do something).
  2. To choose (a candidate) in an election.

    President Obama in a speech this past week said that we should solve the nation's bee problem. Oh, God, we elected a guy who sympathizes with bees?