ἐκλέγω

See also: εκλέγω

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From ἐκ- (ek-, “out”) +‎ λέγω (légō, “to choose”). Exact cognate in form and meaning to Latin ēligō (“to choose”).

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /e.klé.ɡɔː/ → /eˈkle.ɣo/ → /eˈkle.ɣo/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /e.klé.ɡɔː/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /eˈkle.ɡo/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /eˈkle.ɣo/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /eˈkle.ɣo/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /eˈkle.ɣo/

Verb

ἐκλέγω • (eklégō)

2. to pick or single out, to choose
   • 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 4.59
   • 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Hellenica 1.6.19
   • 380 BCE, Plato, The Republic 535A
   • 428 BCE – 347 BCE, Plato, Laws 811A
   • 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 1.199
   • 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 3.38
   • 385 BCE – 380 BCE, Plato, Symposium 198D
   • 436 BCE – 338 BCE, Isocrates, Evagoras 58
   1. (in middle voice) to pull out one's gray hairs
      • 424 BCE, Aristophanes, The Knights 908
3. to levy taxes or tribute
   • 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 8.44
   • 440 BCE – 390 BCE, Andocides, On the Mysteries 92
   • 384 BCE – 322 BCE, Demosthenes, Against Timotheus 49
   • 371 BCE – 287 BCE, Theophrastus, Characters 6.4
   • 389 BCE – 314 BCE, Aeschines, Collected Works 3.113
   • 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Hellenica 1.1.22

Inflection

   Present: ἐκλέγω, ἐκλέγομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐκλέγω	ἐκλέγεις	ἐκλέγει	ἐκλέγετον	ἐκλέγετον	ἐκλέγομεν	ἐκλέγετε	ἐκλέγουσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	ἐκλέγω	ἐκλέγῃς	ἐκλέγῃ	ἐκλέγητον	ἐκλέγητον	ἐκλέγωμεν	ἐκλέγητε	ἐκλέγωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐκλέγοιμῐ	ἐκλέγοις	ἐκλέγοι	ἐκλέγοιτον	ἐκλεγοίτην	ἐκλέγοιμεν	ἐκλέγοιτε	ἐκλέγοιεν
	imperative		ἔκλεγε	ἐκλεγέτω	ἐκλέγετον	ἐκλεγέτων		ἐκλέγετε	ἐκλεγόντων
middle/ passive	indicative	ἐκλέγομαι	ἐκλέγῃ, ἐκλέγει	ἐκλέγεται	ἐκλέγεσθον	ἐκλέγεσθον	ἐκλεγόμεθᾰ	ἐκλέγεσθε	ἐκλέγονται
	subjunctive	ἐκλέγωμαι	ἐκλέγῃ	ἐκλέγηται	ἐκλέγησθον	ἐκλέγησθον	ἐκλεγώμεθᾰ	ἐκλέγησθε	ἐκλέγωνται
	optative	ἐκλεγοίμην	ἐκλέγοιο	ἐκλέγοιτο	ἐκλέγοισθον	ἐκλεγοίσθην	ἐκλεγοίμεθᾰ	ἐκλέγοισθε	ἐκλέγοιντο
	imperative		ἐκλέγου	ἐκλεγέσθω	ἐκλέγεσθον	ἐκλεγέσθων		ἐκλέγεσθε	ἐκλεγέσθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		ἐκλέγειν				ἐκλέγεσθαι
participle	m	ἐκλέγων				ἐκλεγόμενος
	f	ἐκλέγουσᾰ				ἐκλεγομένη
	n	ἐκλέγον				ἐκλεγόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Imperfect: ἐξέλεγον, ἐξελεγόμην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐξέλεγον	ἐξέλεγες	ἐξέλεγε(ν)	ἐξελέγετον	ἐξελεγέτην	ἐξελέγομεν	ἐξελέγετε	ἐξέλεγον
middle/ passive	indicative	ἐξελεγόμην	ἐξελέγου	ἐξελέγετο	ἐξελέγεσθον	ἐξελεγέσθην	ἐξελεγόμεθᾰ	ἐξελέγεσθε	ἐξελέγοντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Future: ἐκλέξω, ἐκλέξομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐκλέξω	ἐκλέξεις	ἐκλέξει	ἐκλέξετον	ἐκλέξετον	ἐκλέξομεν	ἐκλέξετε	ἐκλέξουσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐκλέξοιμῐ	ἐκλέξοις	ἐκλέξοι	ἐκλέξοιτον	ἐκλεξοίτην	ἐκλέξοιμεν	ἐκλέξοιτε	ἐκλέξοιεν
middle	indicative	ἐκλέξομαι	ἐκλέξῃ, ἐκλέξει	ἐκλέξεται	ἐκλέξεσθον	ἐκλέξεσθον	ἐκλεξόμεθᾰ	ἐκλέξεσθε	ἐκλέξονται
	optative	ἐκλεξοίμην	ἐκλέξοιο	ἐκλέξοιτο	ἐκλέξοισθον	ἐκλεξοίσθην	ἐκλεξοίμεθᾰ	ἐκλέξοισθε	ἐκλέξοιντο
		active			middle
infinitive		ἐκλέξειν			ἐκλέξεσθαι
participle	m	ἐκλέξων			ἐκλεξόμενος
	f	ἐκλέξουσᾰ			ἐκλεξομένη
	n	ἐκλέξον			ἐκλεξόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ἐξέλεξᾰ, ἐξελεξᾰ́μην, ἐξελέχθην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐξέλεξᾰ	ἐξέλεξᾰς	ἐξέλεξε(ν)	ἐξελέξᾰτον	ἐξελεξᾰ́την	ἐξελέξᾰμεν	ἐξελέξᾰτε	ἐξέλεξᾰν
	subjunctive	ἐκλέξω	ἐκλέξῃς	ἐκλέξῃ	ἐκλέξητον	ἐκλέξητον	ἐκλέξωμεν	ἐκλέξητε	ἐκλέξωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐκλέξαιμῐ	ἐκλέξειᾰς, ἐκλέξαις	ἐκλέξειε(ν), ἐκλέξαι	ἐκλέξαιτον	ἐκλεξαίτην	ἐκλέξαιμεν	ἐκλέξαιτε	ἐκλέξειᾰν, ἐκλέξαιεν
	imperative		ἔκλεξον	ἐκλεξᾰ́τω	ἐκλέξᾰτον	ἐκλεξᾰ́των		ἐκλέξᾰτε	ἐκλεξᾰ́ντων
middle	indicative	ἐξελεξᾰ́μην	ἐξελέξω	ἐξελέξᾰτο	ἐξελέξᾰσθον	ἐξελεξᾰ́σθην	ἐξελεξᾰ́μεθᾰ	ἐξελέξᾰσθε	ἐξελέξᾰντο
	subjunctive	ἐκλέξωμαι	ἐκλέξῃ	ἐκλέξηται	ἐκλέξησθον	ἐκλέξησθον	ἐκλεξώμεθᾰ	ἐκλέξησθε	ἐκλέξωνται
	optative	ἐκλεξαίμην	ἐκλέξαιο	ἐκλέξαιτο	ἐκλέξαισθον	ἐκλεξαίσθην	ἐκλεξαίμεθᾰ	ἐκλέξαισθε	ἐκλέξαιντο
	imperative		ἔκλεξαι	ἐκλεξᾰ́σθω	ἐκλέξᾰσθον	ἐκλεξᾰ́σθων		ἐκλέξᾰσθε	ἐκλεξᾰ́σθων
passive	indicative	ἐξελέχθην	ἐξελέχθης	ἐξελέχθη	ἐξελέχθητον	ἐξελεχθήτην	ἐξελέχθημεν	ἐξελέχθητε	ἐξελέχθησᾰν
	subjunctive	ἐκλεχθῶ	ἐκλεχθῇς	ἐκλεχθῇ	ἐκλεχθῆτον	ἐκλεχθῆτον	ἐκλεχθῶμεν	ἐκλεχθῆτε	ἐκλεχθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐκλεχθείην	ἐκλεχθείης	ἐκλεχθείη	ἐκλεχθεῖτον, ἐκλεχθείητον	ἐκλεχθείτην, ἐκλεχθειήτην	ἐκλεχθεῖμεν, ἐκλεχθείημεν	ἐκλεχθεῖτε, ἐκλεχθείητε	ἐκλεχθεῖεν, ἐκλεχθείησᾰν
	imperative		ἐκλέχθητῐ	ἐκλεχθήτω	ἐκλέχθητον	ἐκλεχθήτων		ἐκλέχθητε	ἐκλεχθέντων
		active			middle		passive
infinitive		ἐκλέξαι			ἐκλέξᾰσθαι		ἐκλεχθῆναι
participle	m	ἐκλέξᾱς			ἐκλεξᾰ́μενος		ἐκλεχθείς
	f	ἐκλέξᾱσᾰ			ἐκλεξᾰμένη		ἐκλεχθεῖσᾰ
	n	ἐκλέξᾰν			ἐκλεξᾰ́μενον		ἐκλεχθέν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ἐξελέγην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
passive	indicative	ἐξελέγην	ἐξελέγης	ἐξελέγη	ἐξελέγητον	ἐξελεγήτην	ἐξελέγημεν	ἐξελέγητε	ἐξελέγησᾰν
	subjunctive	ἐκλεγῶ	ἐκλεγῇς	ἐκλεγῇ	ἐκλεγῆτον	ἐκλεγῆτον	ἐκλεγῶμεν	ἐκλεγῆτε	ἐκλεγῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐκλεγείην	ἐκλεγείης	ἐκλεγείη	ἐκλεγεῖτον, ἐκλεγείητον	ἐκλεγείτην, ἐκλεγειήτην	ἐκλεγεῖμεν, ἐκλεγείημεν	ἐκλεγεῖτε, ἐκλεγείητε	ἐκλεγεῖεν, ἐκλεγείησᾰν
	imperative		ἐκλέγηθῐ	ἐκλεγήτω	ἐκλέγητον	ἐκλεγήτων		ἐκλέγητε	ἐκλεγέντων
							passive
infinitive							ἐκλεγῆναι
participle	m						ἐκλεγείς
	f						ἐκλεγεῖσᾰ
	n						ἐκλεγέν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Perfect: ἐξείλοχᾰ, ἐξείλεγμαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐξείλοχᾰ	ἐξείλοχᾰς	ἐξείλοχε(ν)	ἐξειλόχᾰτον	ἐξειλόχᾰτον	ἐξειλόχᾰμεν	ἐξειλόχᾰτε	ἐξειλόχᾱσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	ἐξειλόχω	ἐξειλόχῃς	ἐξειλόχῃ	ἐξειλόχητον	ἐξειλόχητον	ἐξειλόχωμεν	ἐξειλόχητε	ἐξειλόχωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐξειλόχοιμῐ, ἐξειλοχοίην	ἐξειλόχοις, ἐξειλοχοίης	ἐξειλόχοι, ἐξειλοχοίη	ἐξειλόχοιτον	ἐξειλοχοίτην	ἐξειλόχοιμεν	ἐξειλόχοιτε	ἐξειλόχοιεν
	imperative		ἐξείλοχε	ἐξειλοχέτω	ἐξειλόχετον	ἐξειλοχέτων		ἐξειλόχετε	ἐξειλοχόντων
middle/ passive	indicative	ἐξείλεγμαι	ἐξείλεξαι	ἐξείλεκται	ἐξείλεχθον	ἐξείλεχθον	ἐξειλέγμεθᾰ	ἐξείλεχθε	ἐξειλέγᾰται
	subjunctive	ἐξειλεγμένος ὦ	ἐξειλεγμένος ᾖς	ἐξειλεγμένος ᾖ	ἐξειλεγμένω ἦτον	ἐξειλεγμένω ἦτον	ἐξειλεγμένοι ὦμεν	ἐξειλεγμένοι ἦτε	ἐξειλεγμένοι ὦσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐξειλεγμένος εἴην	ἐξειλεγμένος εἴης	ἐξειλεγμένος εἴη	ἐξειλεγμένω εἴητον/εἶτον	ἐξειλεγμένω εἰήτην/εἴτην	ἐξειλεγμένοι εἴημεν/εἶμεν	ἐξειλεγμένοι εἴητε/εἶτε	ἐξειλεγμένοι εἴησᾰν/εἶεν
	imperative		ἐξείλεξο	ἐξειλέχθω	ἐξείλεχθον	ἐξειλέχθων		ἐξείλεχθε	ἐξειλέχθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		ἐξειλοχέναι				ἐξειλέχθαι
participle	m	ἐξειλοχώς				ἐξειλεγμένος
	f	ἐξειλοχυῖᾰ				ἐξειλεγμένη
	n	ἐξειλοχός				ἐξειλεγμένον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Perfect: ἐκλέλεγμαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	ἐκλέλεγμαι	ἐκλέλεξαι	ἐκλέλεκται	ἐκλέλεχθον	ἐκλέλεχθον	ἐκλελέγμεθᾰ	ἐκλέλεχθε	ἐκλελέγᾰται
	subjunctive	ἐκλελεγμένος ὦ	ἐκλελεγμένος ᾖς	ἐκλελεγμένος ᾖ	ἐκλελεγμένω ἦτον	ἐκλελεγμένω ἦτον	ἐκλελεγμένοι ὦμεν	ἐκλελεγμένοι ἦτε	ἐκλελεγμένοι ὦσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐκλελεγμένος εἴην	ἐκλελεγμένος εἴης	ἐκλελεγμένος εἴη	ἐκλελεγμένω εἴητον/εἶτον	ἐκλελεγμένω εἰήτην/εἴτην	ἐκλελεγμένοι εἴημεν/εἶμεν	ἐκλελεγμένοι εἴητε/εἶτε	ἐκλελεγμένοι εἴησᾰν/εἶεν
	imperative		ἐκλέλεξο	ἐκλελέχθω	ἐκλέλεχθον	ἐκλελέχθων		ἐκλέλεχθε	ἐκλελέχθων
						middle/passive
infinitive						ἐκλελέχθαι
participle	m					ἐκλελεγμένος
	f					ἐκλελεγμένη
	n					ἐκλελεγμένον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Derived terms

• ἐκλογή (eklogḗ)

Further reading

• “ἐκλέγω”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “ἐκλέγω”, in Liddell & Scott (1889) An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
• ἐκλέγω in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
• ἐκλέγω in the Diccionario Griego–Español en línea (2006–2025)
• ἐκλέγω in Trapp, Erich, et al. (1994–2007) Lexikon zur byzantinischen Gräzität besonders des 9.-12. Jahrhunderts [the Lexicon of Byzantine Hellenism, Particularly the 9th–12th Centuries], Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften