ē-lĭgo, lēgi, lectum, 3, v. a. [lĕgo],
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.
II —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.