different between elite vs elect

English

Alternative forms

• élite

Etymology

From Middle English elit, from Old French elit, eslit (“chosen, elected”) past participle of elire, eslire (“to choose, elect”), from Latin eligere (“to choose, elect”), with past participle electus; see elect.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??li?t/, /??li?t/, /??li?t/, /e??li?t/
• Rhymes: -i?t

Adjective

elite (comparative eliter or more elite, superlative elitest or most elite)

1. Of high birth or social position; aristocratic or patrician.
2. Representing the choicest or most select of a group.
   • 2013, Louise Taylor, English talent gets left behind as Premier League keeps importing (in The Guardian, 20 August 2013)[1]

     Not since Coventry in 1992 has a Premier League side kicked off a campaign with an all-English XI but things have reached the point where, of the 61 signings who have cost the elite division's 20 clubs a transfer fee this summer, only 12 have involved Englishmen.

Translations

Noun

elite (plural elites)

1. A special group or social class of people which have a superior intellectual, social or economic status as, the elite of society.
2. Someone who is among the best at a certain task.
   • 1964, "France's Culture Corps," Time, 7 Aug.,

     Is there a nobler or more disinterested aim than to educate the cadres, the elites of tomorrow?

3. (typography) A typeface with 12 characters per inch.

   Coordinate term: pica

Derived terms

• global elite
• power elite

Related terms

• elect
• elitism
• elitist
• elegant
• eligible
• l33t
• select
• selection

Translations

References

• elite at OneLook Dictionary Search
• elite in Keywords for Today: A 21st Century Vocabulary, edited by The Keywords Project, Colin MacCabe, Holly Yanacek, 2018.
• elite in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• elite in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• "elite" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 112.

Anagrams

• Eitel, Leite, Tiele

Afrikaans

Etymology

From Dutch elite, from French élite.

Noun

elite (plural elites)

1. elite

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French élite.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?e??li.t?/
• Hyphenation: eli?te
• Rhymes: -it?

Noun

elite f (plural elites)

1. elite (group with a high or privileged status)

Usage notes

The term may be used with negative as well as positive connotations, but negative connotations tend to predominate, especially in contemporary political discourse. Overall the term has a more negative ring than French élite or English elite.

Derived terms

• bedrijfselite
• bestuurselite
• elitair
• elite-eenheid
• elitehaver
• elitekorps
• elitetroep
• elitisme
• elitist
• elitistisch
• zakenelite

Descendants

• Afrikaans: elite

Portuguese

Etymology

From French élite.

Noun

elite f (plural elites)

1. elite (group with higher status)

   Synonym: escol

2. elite (person who is among the best at certain task)

Further reading

• “elite” in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa.

Spanish

Noun

elite f (plural elites)

1. Alternative form of élite

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ?l?ctus, past participle of ?lig? (“to pick out, choose, elect”), from ?- (“out”) + leg? (“to pick out, pick, gather, collect, etc.”); see legend.

Cognate to eclectic, which is via Ancient Greek rather than Latin, hence prefix ?? (ek), rather than e- (from ex).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??l?kt/, /i??l?kt/
• Hyphenation: elect
• Rhymes: -?kt

Noun

elect (plural elects or elect)

1. One chosen or set apart.
2. (theology) In Calvinist theology, one foreordained to Heaven. In other Christian theologies, someone chosen by God for salvation.

   • Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.

   • Shall not God avenge his won elect?

Antonyms

• reprobate

Derived terms

• president-elect

Translations

Verb

elect (third-person singular simple present elects, present participle electing, simple past and past participle elected)

1. (transitive) To choose or make a decision (to do something)
2. (transitive) To choose (a candidate) in an election

Related terms

Translations

Adjective

elect (not comparable)

1. (postpositive) Who has been elected in a specified post, but has not yet entered office.

   He is the President elect.
2. Chosen; taken by preference from among two or more.
   • the elect angels

Translations

Further reading

• elect in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• elect in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.