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Added 9 October 2026

elect

/ɪˈlɛkt/ noun

In Latin: ēligō, dīligō, legō Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about elect at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

An exclusive group of people.
one of the elect who have power inside the government

verb

Select by a vote for an office or membership.
We elected him chairman of the board
Choose.
I elected to have my funds deposited automatically

adjective

Selected as the best.
an elect circle of artists
Elected but not yet installed in office.
the president elect

Origin

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).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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