Elect Definition
ĭ-lĕkt
elected, elects
verb
elected, elects
To select for some office by voting.
Webster's New World
To make a choice; choose.
Webster's New World
To choose; select.
We elected to stay.
Webster's New World
To decide, especially by preference.
Elected to take the summer off.
American Heritage
To choose for eternal salvation.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
adjective
Chosen; given preference.
Webster's New World
Elected but not yet installed in office.
The mayor-elect.
Webster's New World
Chosen for marriage. Often used in combination.
The bride-elect.
American Heritage
Chosen by God for salvation and eternal life.
Webster's New World
noun
elects
A person who is elect.
Webster's New World
One that is chosen or selected.
American Heritage
One selected by divine will for salvation.
American Heritage
An exclusive group of people. Used with the:
One of the elect who have power inside the government.
American Heritage
suffix
Used after a title to indicate the person who has been elected to hold the title before officially taking the position.
Wiktionary
idiom
the elect
- persons belonging to a specially privileged group
- those chosen by God for salvation and eternal life
Webster's New World
Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Elect
- the elect
Origin of Elect
-
From Latin electus, past participle of eligere (“to pick out, choose, elect”), from e- (“out”) + legere (“to pick out, pick, gather, collect, etc.”); see legend.
From Wiktionary
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Middle English electen from Latin ēligere ēlēct- to select ē-, ex- ex- legere to choose leg- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
Cognate to eclectic, which is via Ancient Greek rather than Latin, hence prefix ἐκ (ek), rather than e- (from ex).
From Wiktionary
From elect
From Wiktionary
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