I.to pick out, choose, elect (class.; esp. in the trop. sense; cf.: “coöpto, designo, deligo, seligo): pedes e capite et e collo pullorum,” Varr. R. R. 3, 9, 14: “uvam ad edendum (with legere),” id. ib. 1, 54, 2: “herbas,” to pluck up, to weed out, id. ib. 1, 47; Col. 4, 5; cf. “trop.,” Cic. Tusc. 3, 34, 83 and 84: “ex malis minima,” Cic. Off. 3, 1, 3: ut de tribus Antoniis eligas quem velis, id. Phil. 10, 2, 5: “a multis commodissimum quodque,” id. Inv. 2, 2, 5: “ut in comparando difficile ad eligendum sit, quid maxime velis,” id. Rep. 1, 35 fin. et saep.—Absol., to choose correctly, make a proper selection: haud semper errat fama; “aliquando et elegit,” Tac. Agr. 9 fin.—Hence, ēlectus , a, um, P. a.
I. In gen., picked, selected; select, choice, excellent: “par columbarum,” Petr. 85, 6: “viri electissimi civitatis,” Cic. Quint. 2: “pugiles,” Suet. Calig. 18: “quisque,” id. ib. 49: “electissima verba,” Cic. Fin. 3, 7 fin. Madv. N. cr.; Auct. Her. 4, 26, 36; cf.: “electius verbum,” id. ib.; “scripta,” Cat. 36, 6: “res,” Petr. 36, 4 et saep.—In the neutr. subst.: ēlecta , ōrum, selections, Plin. Ep. 3, 5, 17.—Adv.: ēlecte choicely, Cic. Inv. 1, 30, 49.—Comp., Gell. 18, 7, 2.—
II. In eccl. Lat., chosen of God, elected to be saved, Vulg. Col. 3, 12 et saep.
