dē-lĭgo, lēgi, lectum, 3, v. a. [1. lego], to choose out, to select (for syn. cf.: lego, coopto, designo, eligo, seligo).
I In gen. (freq. and class.): continuo Amphitruo delegit viros primores principes, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 49: ad eas res conficiendas Orgetorix deligitur, Caes. B. G. 1, 3, 3: quodsi liber populus deliget, quibus se committat; deligetque optimum quemque, Cic. Rep. 1, 34: qui ex senatu in hoc consilium delecti estis, id. Rosc. Am. 3 fin. ; so with ex , id. Agr. 2, 9, 23; id. Mil. 8, 21; id. Rep. 1, 44; Caes. B. G. 3, 18; 5, 11; Sall. J. 23, 2; Liv. 8, 33 et saep.; poet. with ab : delectos ordine ab omni centum oratores, Verg. A. 7, 152: Otho (Celsum) bello inter duces delegit, Tac. H. 1, 71: locum castris, Caes. B. G. 1, 49; 2, 17: hunc sibi locum domicilio, id. ib. 2, 29 fin. et saep.: re frumentaria comparata equitibusque delectis, id. ib. 4, 7; and so of soldiers, id. ib. 1, 48; Sall. J. 46, 7; 49, 1 al.: delecti Latio et Laurentibus agris, Verg. A. 11, 431: melimela ad lunam delecta, Hor. S. 2, 8, 32.—Poet.: altaque mortali deligere astra manu, Prop. 2, 32, 50 (3, 30, 50 M. dub.; al. deripere).—
II In partic.
A Of fruits, to gather, pick off : oleam, Cato R. R. 144, 1: uvam, ib. 112, 2: fructum, Col. 5, 10, 10.—
B With the accessory idea of removal to a distance, to choose out and send or take away (rare): amentem ex aedibus, Plaut. As. 3, 3, 42: senes ac fessas aequore matres, Verg. A. 5, 717.