election
Meaning
a process in which people vote to choose a person or group for an official position
the fact of being elected to a position
Structure
Usage
The presidential election will be held next November.
She won the election by a narrow margin.
The party is preparing its campaign for the local elections.
Etymology
The word 'election' originates from the Latin electionem (nominative electio), meaning "a choice, selection." This noun was derived from the past participle stem elect- of the verb eligere, which itself is a compound of e- (out) and legere (to choose, gather). The core concept is thus the act of "choosing out" or selecting from among alternatives. Over centuries, this general sense of selection became specifically associated with the formal, often public, process of choosing individuals for office by vote, a meaning fully established in English by the late 13th century.
Analysis
e: A Latin prefix meaning "out" or "from." lect: A root from the Latin verb legere, meaning "to choose" or "to gather." ion: A suffix of Latin origin used to form nouns denoting an action or process.