eligere

Eligere is a Latin verb meaning to choose or elect. It is a third-conjugation verb and appears frequently in classical Latin, where it denotes the act of selecting from among options or people. The sense of choosing is broad, covering elections, appointments, and decisions, and the verb is used in a variety of syntactic contexts to indicate that a subject makes a selection or designation.

Etymology and derivatives: Eligere is the root from which several English words originate, via Latin and Old French. English terms such as eligible, eligibility, and elective derive from forms related to eligere, while the past participle electus contributed to the English verb elect and to the concept of election through later developments. The Latin adjective eligibilis means eligible, and the noun eligibilitas denotes eligibility.

Usage and context: In Roman political life, the act of choosing or electing officials was commonly described with eligere. The verb appears in legal and historical texts to express the selection of magistrates, decisions, or other appointed roles. In Latin literature, it also appears in more general senses of picking or selecting among options, goods, or individuals.

See also: Etymology of English elect/eligible; Latin third-conjugation verbs; related Latin forms such as electus (chosen), electio (election), and eligibilis (eligible).