/ɪˈlɛkt/, /ɪˈlɛkt/, /i-/
OriginBorrowed 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).
- One chosen or set apart.
- 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?”
- transitiveTo choose or make a decision (to do something).
- transitiveTo 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?”
- not-comparable, postpositionalWho 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 th”
- not-comparableChosen; taken by preference from among two or more.
“colours quaint elect”
“the elect angels”
Formselects(plural) · elect(plural) · elects(present, singular, third-person) · electing(participle, present) · elected(participle, past) · elected(past)