select English · revision 5145

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1565|origins=la seligere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sɪˈlekt/, /səˈlekt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[la|sēlēctus]], the past participle of sēligere “to choose out”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from sē- “apart” and legere “to gather, choose”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*leǵ-|alt=*leg-|t=to collect, gather]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[elect]], [[elegant]], [[collect]] and [[legend]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adjective, chosen for excellence or fitness: 1565, in Cooper's Thesaurus, according to the OED and Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, to pick out in preference to others, is from 1566 in MWU, 1567 in the OED and Barnhart.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Choice, of special excellence” is by the 1580s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Of persons or company, exclusive, it is from 1602,^(OED 1989) and of a society admitting only certain members from 1842.^(OED 1989) The noun, a selected person or thing, is from about 1600.^(Etymonline) Of impersonal agencies, as in natural selection, the verb is from 1859.^(OED 1989) ''Selection'' is from 1646–58.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1565 – adjective, chosen.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1567 – verb, to choose.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1602 – exclusive.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1859 – of natural agencies.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To choose someone or something from a group.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Chosen for being the best: ''a select group''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Used by or open to only a few people; [[exclusive]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[selectable]]

+ * [[selectness]]

+ * [[selector]]

+ * [[selectability]]

+ * [[selectly]]

+ * [[preselect]]

+ * [[reselect]]

+ * [[selectee]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[elect]]

+ * [[election]]

+ * [[elective]]

+ * [[elite]]

+ * [[selection]]

+ * [[selective]]

+ * [[collect]]

+ * [[elegant]]

+ * [[legend]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}