eclectic English · revision 1566

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɛkˈlɛk.tɪk/, /ɪˈklɛk.tɪk/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|ἐκλεκτικός|tr=eklektikós|t=selective]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) perhaps through French ''éclectique'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''eklektós'' “selected”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) from ''eklégein'' “to pick out”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from ''ek-'' “out” and ''légein'' “to gather, choose”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Describing ancient philosophers who belonged to no one school but selected doctrines from every system (1683).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The broader sense of selecting from various sources appeared in 1814,^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) and that of being borrowed from diverse sources by 1847.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The noun, an adherent of the eclectic method, is from 1817.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1651 – French ''éclectique''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1683 – of ancient philosophers who selected from all schools.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1814 – selective in general.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1817 – noun, one who follows an eclectic method.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1847 – drawn from diverse sources.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Choosing what seems best from a variety of sources, systems or styles.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Made up of elements from varied sources; [[heterogeneous]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who follows an eclectic method.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[eclectically]]

+ * [[eclecticism]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[elect]]

+ * [[select]]

+ * [[legend]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}