elect
nounverbadjectiveattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ɪˈlɛkt//
- United States//ɪˈlɛkt//
- United States//i-//
- United States//ə-//
One chosen or set apart.
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.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.
Shall not God avenge his won elect?
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).
verb
- 1
To choose or make a decision (to do something).
- 2
(Of a group) to officially select one or more candidates in an election to hold office.
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?
adjective
- 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
Forms
- plural
- elects
- past tense
- elected
- past participle
- elected
- present participle
- electing
- third person singular
- elects