a. [ L. electus, p. p. of eligere to elect; e out + legere to choose. See Legend, and cf. Elite, Eclectic. ] 1. Chosen; taken by preference from among two or more. “Colors quaint elect.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Theol.) Chosen as the object of mercy or divine favor; set apart to eternal life. “The elect angels.” 1 Tim. v. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Chosen to an office, but not yet actually inducted into it; as, bishop elect; governor or mayor elect. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Elected; p. pr. & vb. n. Electing. ] 1. To pick out; to select; to choose. [ 1913 Webster ]

The deputy elected by the Lord. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To select or take for an office; to select by vote; as, to elect a representative, a president, or a governor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Theol.) To designate, choose, or select, as an object of mercy or favor.

Syn. -- To choose; prefer; select. See Choose. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One chosen or set apart. [ 1913 Webster ]

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. Is. xlii. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. (Theol.) Those who are chosen for salvation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shall not God avenge his won elect? Luke xviii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. electans, p. pr. of electare. ] One who has the power of choosing; an elector. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Med.) See Electuary. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ L. electrum: cf. F. électre mixture of gold and silver. See Electrum. ] 1. Amber. See Electrum. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A metallic substance compounded of gold and silver; an alloy. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Eclectic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Eclecticism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. élection, L. electio, fr. eligere to choose out. See Elect, a. ] 1. The act of choosing; choice; selection. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of choosing a person to fill an office, or to membership in a society, as by ballot, uplifted hands, or viva voce; as, the election of a president or a mayor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Corruption in elections is the great enemy of freedom. J. Adams. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Power of choosing; free will; liberty to choose or act. “By his own election led to ill.” Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Discriminating choice; discernment. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To use men with much difference and election is good. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Theol.) Divine choice; predestination of individuals as objects of mercy and salvation; -- one of the “five points” of Calvinism. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a remnant according to the election of grace. Rom. xi. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Law) The choice, made by a party, of two alternatives, by taking one of which, the chooser is excluded from the other. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Those who are elected. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The election hath obtained it. Rom. xi. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

To contest an election. See under Contest. --
To make one's election, to choose. [ 1913 Webster ]

He has made his election to walk, in the main, in the old paths. Fitzed. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Electionered p. pr. & vb. n. Electioneering. ] To make interest for a candidate at an election; to use arts for securing the election of a candidate. [ 1913 Webster ]

A master of the whole art of electioneering. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]