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).
1
One chosen or set apart.
2
Lifestyle, Religion, Theology 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.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 42:1:
Shall not God avenge his won elect?1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 18:7:
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).
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?2014, Norm Macdonald Live, season 2, episode 9, spoken by Norm Macdonald:
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).
1
Postpositional 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.1811, Jane Austen, chapter 16, in Sense and Sensibility:
2
Chosen; taken by preference from among two or more.
colours quaint elect1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
the elect angels1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Timothy 5:21: