eligible
/ˈɛlɪdʒɪb(ə)l
/adjective (often eligible for/to do something)
1Having the right to do or obtain something; satisfying the appropriate conditions: customers who are eligible for discounts eligible candidates...
- This is subject to winners being eligible for race competition licences.
- There are two conditions that must be met in order to be eligible for these new measures.
- Four or five cardinals who are eligible for the candidacy of pope could openly campaign.
Synonyms
entitled, permitted, allowed, qualified;
acceptable, suitable, appropriate, fit, fitting, worthy, competent
1.1(Of a person) desirable or suitable as a partner in marriage: the world’s most eligible bachelor...
- We have plenty of eligible bachelors in these parts and quite a few eligible ladies too!
- Prince William managed to stand one of the world's most eligible women up last week when he got tied up foxhunting.
- Last month this magazine presented a list of Scotland's 100 most eligible women and men.
Synonyms
desirable;
available, single, unmarried, unattached, unwed
Derivatives
eligibly
Origin
Late Middle English: via French from late Latin eligibilis, from Latin eligere 'choose' (see elect).
elegant from Late Middle English:
These days, someone elegant will generally be well dressed, but the basic idea behind the word is of being discerning and making careful choices. It comes from Old French élégant or Latin elegans, from eligere ‘to choose or select’, which was the origin of elect (Late Middle English), eligible (Late Middle English), and elite (late 18th century).