eligible

• POS: Adjective
• HYPHEN: el=i=gi=ble

CIDE DICTIONARY

eligible, a. [F. éligible, fr. L. eligere. See Elect.].

•  That may be selected; proper or qualified to be chosen; legally qualified to be elected and to hold office.  [1913 Webster]
•  Worthy to be chosen or selected; suitable; desirable; as, an eligible situation for a house.  [1913 Webster]

  "The more eligible of the two evils."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

eligible, adj.
1 (often foll. by for) fit or entitled to be chosen (eligible for a rebate).
2 desirable or suitable, esp. as a partner in marriage.

Derivative

eligibility n. eligibly adv.

Etymology

F {eacute}ligible f. LL eligibilis (as ELECT)

THESAURUS

eligible

acceptability, acceptable, admissible, appropriate, available, capable, desirability, desirable, eligibility, enfranchised, fit, fitness, fitted, fittedness, fitting, likely, marriageable, nubile, preferable, proper, qualification, qualified, seemly, single, suitability, suitable, suited, unmarried, unwed, with voice, with vote, worthiness, worthy

ROGET THESAURUS

eligible

Expedience

N expedience, expediency, desirableness, desirability, fitness, utility, propriety, opportunism, advantage, high time, expedient, desirable, advisable, acceptable, convenient, worth while, meet, fit, fitting, due, proper, eligible, seemly, becoming, befitting, opportune, in loco, suitable, applicable, in the right place, conveniently, operae pretium est.