Self-elect
adj, noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 The self-appointed elite. countable, uncountable
"Meantime the minister ascended the pulpit-stair, with all the solemnity of one of the self-elect, and a priest besides."
- 2 A volunteer. countable, uncountable
"Most of the volunteers had departed for the winter, leaving behind three hundred self-elects."
- 1 To self-select; to choose for oneself, rather than having another choose for one.
"In the fundamental part he therefore argues: “Truly good works are not self-elected works of monastic or any other holiness, but such only as God has commanded, and as are comprehended within the bounds of one's particular calling, and all works."
- 2 To self-appoint; to volunteer; to take on a role one has chosen for oneself. ambitransitive
"Which of ye will venture upon me? —Will you, Mr. Constable self-elect? or you, sir, with a pimple on your nose, got at Oxford by hard drinking, your only badge of loyalty?"
- 1 Chosen by oneself; self-appointed. not-comparable
"The House of Keys, being self-elect, in these days of popular election by the people, is not a very popular institution."
Example
More examples"In the fundamental part he therefore argues: “Truly good works are not self-elected works of monastic or any other holiness, but such only as God has commanded, and as are comprehended within the bounds of one's particular calling, and all works."
Etymology
From self- + elect.
More for "self-elect"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.