elect English · revision 10402

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1425|origins=la electus|origins=ine-pro *leǵ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪˈlɛkt/ ''(UK)''; /ɪˈlɛkt/, /i-/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English, from Latin ēlēctus, chosen, the past participle of ēligere, to pick out, select,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from ē-, out, and -ligere, the combining form of legere, to choose, read (see [[legend]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from PIE *leg-, to collect, gather.^(Etymonline) In Late Latin electus also meant chosen by God.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The verb, to choose, and the adjective, voluntary: probably before 1425, in a translation of Higden;^(Barnhart 1988) the early 15th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Chosen for office is from 1447, and selected from 1477.^(Barnhart 1988) Chosen by God, especially for salvation, is from 1526,^(OED 1989) and the noun, those chosen by God, ''the elect'', from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) Chosen to an office but not yet installed, as ''president-elect'', is from 1643.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) To choose by vote is Hoad's 15th-century sense of the verb,^(Hoad 1986) and to choose to do something, decide, is a later use.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1425 – to choose; voluntary.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1447 – chosen for office.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1526 – chosen by God.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1643 – elected but not installed.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To choose by [[vote]] for an office or membership.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To choose or decide: ''she elected to stay''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(theology)'' Of God, to choose for salvation.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Elected but not yet installed, placed after the noun: ''the president-elect''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Chosen or select; singled out.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(the elect)'' Those chosen by God for salvation, or an exclusive group.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[president-elect]]

+ * [[nonelected]]

+ * [[unelected]]

+ * [[electable]]

+ * [[elector]]

+ * [[nonelect]]

+ * [[preelect]]

+ * [[reelect]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[election]]

+ * [[elective]]

+ * [[eligible]]

+ * [[elite]]

+ * [[elegant]]

+ * [[select]]

+ * [[selection]]

+ * [[selective]]

+ * [[collect]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}