elector
UK[ɪˈlɛktə]US[ɪˈlɛktər]
n
A person who has the right to vote in an election.
n
A member of the electoral college in systems like that of the United States, chosen to formally elect the president and vice president.
Morpheme Breakdown
elect
or
elect
choose
or
person who does
Etymology
The word 'elector' is built directly upon the Latin verb eligere, meaning "to pick out or choose," which itself is a compound of e- (out) and legere (to gather, pick). The agentive suffix -or was attached to form elector, designating "one who chooses." Historically, this term gained significant political weight, notably in the Holy Roman Empire where "Electors" were the princes entitled to choose the Emperor. This historical usage directly informs its modern democratic sense, where an elector is any citizen with the franchise or a designated member of an electoral college, preserving the core concept of an individual empowered with the right of formal selection.
Analysis
Structure: elect (choose) + or (person who does)
- elect: From Latin electus, past participle of eligere (to pick out, choose). Functional role: Core root conveying the meaning of selection.
- or: A suffix of Latin origin (-or, -ator) used to form agent nouns indicating "a person or thing that performs an action." Functional role: Agentive suffix.
Examples
Every registered elector should cast their ballot on election day.
In the U.S. system, an elector pledges to vote for a specific presidential candidate.
The council was chosen by a college of electors representing various districts.