Word of the Day

: March 9, 2010

eclectic

adjective ih-KLEK-tik

What It Means

1 : selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles

2 : composed of elements drawn from various sources; also : heterogeneous

eclectic in Context

The new downtown restaurant offers an eclectic mix of appetizers and entrees at reasonable prices.

Did You Know?

"Eclectic" comes from a Greek verb meaning "to select" and was originally applied to ancient philosophers who were not committed to any single system of philosophy; instead, these philosophers selected whichever doctrines pleased them from every school of thought. Later, the word's use broadened to cover other selective natures. "Hard by, the central slab is thick with books / Diverse, but which the true eclectic mind / Knows how to group, and gather out of each / Their frequent wisdoms...." In this 19th century example from a poem by Arthur Joseph Munby, for example, the word is applied to literature lovers who cull selective works from libraries.