elect Hear it!

elect definition

elect (ē lekt′, i-)

adjective

  1. chosen; given preference
  2. elected but not yet installed in office: usually used in combination the mayor-elect
  3. Theol. chosen by God for salvation and eternal life

Etymology: ME < L electus, pp. of eligere, to pick out, choose < e-, out + legere, to pick, choose: see logic

noun

a person who is elect

transitive verb

  1. to select for some office by voting
  2. to choose; select we elected to stay
  3. Theol. to choose for eternal salvation: only in the passive, with God as the implied subject

intransitive verb

to make a choice; choose
elect Idioms

the elect

  1. persons belonging to a specially privileged group
  2. Theol. those chosen by God for salvation and eternal life

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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