English Explanatory Dictionary

elect

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. One chosen or set apart.
  2. In Calvinist theology, one foreordained to Heaven. In other Christian theologies, someone chosen by God for salvation.
verb
  1. To choose or make a decision (to do something).
  2. To choose (a candidate) in an election.
adj
  1. Who has been elected in a specified post, but has not yet entered office.
  2. Chosen; taken by preference from among two or more.

Pronunciation

/ɪˈlɛkt/ /i-/ /ə-/ En-us-elect.ogg

Word forms

elect elects electing elected

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).

Antonyms

reprobate

Related words

election elective elegant eligible elite select selection selective

Derived words

president-elect could not get elected dogcatcher electability electable electee electocracy elector nonelect nonelected nonelecting preelect reelect self-elect unelect unelectability unelected
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