Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “electoral” come from?

Electoral derives from English elector, which comes from Latin lego meaning "to choose," combined with Latin ex meaning "out," ultimately referring to one who is chosen or selected.

electoral (English): Relating to or composed of electors; Of, or...

Definitions

  1. Relating to or composed of electors; Of, or...

Ancestry of “electoral”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishelectorA person eligible to vote in an election; a...
2Middle Englishelectourone with a right to vote in electing some office,...
3Latinelectorchooser, selector; voter, elector
4Latinēligō—
5Latinlegō—
6Latinlēx—
7Proto-Italiclēg-—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanleǵ-s—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanleǵ-to gather, collect, with derivatives meaning to...

Words derived from “electoral”

  • electorally
  • nonelectoral
  • electoralism
  • postelectoral
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leǵ- →