| elecampane | 1. <botany> A large, coarse herb (Inula Helenium), with composite yellow flowers. The root, which has a pungent taste, is used as a tonic, and was formerly of much repute as a stomachic. 2. A sweetmeat made from the root of the plant. Origin: F. Enulecampane, NL. Inula campana; L. Inula elecampane + LL. Campana a bell; cf. G. Glockenwurz, i. E, "bellwort.". Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| elect | 1. Chosen; taken by preference from among two or more. "Colours quaint elect." 2. Chosen as the object of mercy or divine favor; set apart to eternal life. "The elect angels." 3. Chosen to an office, but not yet actually inducted into it; as, bishop elect; governor or mayor elect. Origin: L. Electus, p. P. Of eligere to elect; e out + legere to choose. See Legend, and cf. Elite, Eclectic. 1. One chosen or set apart. "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth." (Is. Xlii. 1) 2. Those who are chosen for salvation. "Shall not God avenge his won elect?" (Luke xviii. 7) 1. To pick out; to select; to choose. "The deputy elected by the Lord." (Shak) 2. To select or take for an office; to select by vote; as, to elect a representative, a president, or a governor. 3. To designate, choose, or select, as an object of mercy or favor. Synonym: To choose, prefer, select. See Choose. Origin: Elected; Electing. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| electary | <medicine> See Electuary. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| electer | 1. Amber. See Electrum. 2. A metallic substance compounded of gold and silver; an alloy. Origin: L. Electrum: cf. F. Electre mixture of gold and silver. See Electrum. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| election | 1. The act of choosing; choice; selection. 2. The act of choosing a person to fill an office, or to membership in a society, as by ballot, uplifted hands, or viva voce; as, the election of a president or a mayor. "Corruption in elections is the great enemy of freedom." (J. Adams) 3. Power of choosing; free will; liberty to choose or act. "By his own election led to ill." 4. Discriminating choice; discernment. "To use men with much difference and election is good." (Bacon) 5. Divine choice; predestination of individuals as objects of mercy and salvation; one of the "five points" of Calvinism. "There is a remnant according to the election of grace." (Rom. Xi. 5) 6. The choice, made by a party, of two alternatives, by taking one of which, the chooser is excluded from the other. 7. Those who are elected. "The election hath obtained it." (Rom. Xi. 7) To contest an election. See Contest. To make one's election, to choose. "He has made his election to walk, in the main, in the old paths." (Fitzed. Hall) Origin: F. Election, L. Electio, fr. Eligere to choose out. See Elect. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| elective | Subject to the choice or decision of the patient or physician, applied to procedures that are advantageous to the patient but not urgent. (18 Nov 1997) |
| elective abortion | The planned termination of a pregnancy. (27 Sep 1997) |
| elective culture | A method of isolating microorganisms capable of utilizing a specific substrate by incubating an inoculum in a medium containing the substrate; the medium usually contains substances or has characteristics that inhibit the growth of unwanted microorganisms. Synonym: enrichment culture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elective mutism | Mutism due to psychogenic causes. Synonym: voluntary mutism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elective surgery | Surgery which is not needed immediately, i.e., one for a non-life-threatening disorder. (09 Oct 1997) |
| electorate | 1. The territory, jurisdiction, or dignity of an elector, as in the old German empire. 2. The whole body of persons in a nation or state who are entitled to vote in an election, or any distinct class or division of them. "The middle-class electorate of Great Britain." (M. Arnold) Origin: Cf. F. Electorat. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| electoress | An electress. Origin: Fem. Of Elector. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Electra complex | Female counterpart of the Oedipus complex in the male; a term used to describe unresolved conflicts during childhood development toward the father which subsequently influence a woman's relationships with men. Synonym: father complex. Origin: Electra, daughter of Agamemnon (05 Mar 2000) |
| electre | 1. Amber. See Electrum. 2. A metallic substance compounded of gold and silver; an alloy. Origin: L. Electrum: cf. F. Electre mixture of gold and silver. See Electrum. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| electrepeter | An instrument used to change the direction of electric currents; a commutator. Origin: Electro + Gr. To turn. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |