eligible

Where does the word "eligible" come from? It comes from Latin legere, passing through Latin and Medieval Latin before entering English (1400s).

Eligible’s story begins in Latin: legere meant “to choose, to read.” To choose, to read, combined with ex- (out). Within Latin, it grew into eligere by ancient. To choose out, from ex- and legere. From there it passed into Medieval Latin as eligibilis by medieval. Able to be chosen, from eligere. It reached English by 1400s as eligible. Settled as the English word for someone qualified to be chosen for something. Today, eligible means qualified or entitled to be chosen for or to participate in something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient legere "to choose, to read", to choose, to read, combined with ex- (out).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient eligere "to choose out", to choose out, from ex- and legere.
3. Stage 3 · Medieval Latin · medieval eligibilis "able to be chosen", able to be chosen, from eligere.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1400s eligible "qualified to be chosen or to participate in something", settled as the English word for someone qualified to be chosen for something.