(v. a.P. a.) : ē-lĭgo, lēgi, lectum, 3, v. a.lĕgo
* 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.
* 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.
* In eccl. Lat., chosen of God, elected to be saved, Vulg. Col. 3, 12 et saep.

s. TLL