Eclectic ECLEC'TIC, a. [Gr. to choose.] Selecting; choosing; an epithet given to certain philosophers of antiquity, who did not attach themselves to any particular sect, but selected from the opinions and principles of each, what they thought solid and good. Hence we say, an eclectic philosopher; the eclectic sect.
ECLEC'TIC, n. A philosopher who selected from the various systems such opinions and principles as he judged to be sound and rational.
1. A christian who adhered to the doctrines of the Eclectics. Also, one of a sect of physicians.

eclectic adj 1: selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas n 1: someone who selects according to the eclectic method [syn: eclectic, eclecticist]

eclectic 1683, from Fr. eclectique, from Gk. eklektikos "selective," lit. "picking out," from eklektos "selected," from eklegein "pick out, select," from ek "out" + legein "gather, choose." Originally a group of ancient philosophers who selected doctrines from every system; broader sense is first recorded 1814.

eclectic I. adjective Etymology: Greek eklektikos, from eklegein to select, from ex- out + legein to gather — more at legend Date: 1683 1. selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles 2. composed of elements drawn from various sources; also heterogeneous • eclectically adverb II. noun Date: 1817 one who uses an eclectic method or approach

eclectic
adj. & n.
--adj.
1 deriving ideas, tastes, style, etc., from various sources.
2 Philos. & Art selecting one's beliefs etc. from various sources; attached to no particular school of philosophy.
--n.
1 an eclectic person.
2 a person who subscribes to an eclectic school of thought.
Derivatives:
eclectically adv. eclecticism n.
Etymology: Gk eklektikos f. eklego pick out

eclectic An eclectic collection of objects, ideas, or beliefs is wide-ranging and comes from many different sources. (FORMAL) ...an eclectic collection of paintings, drawings, and prints. = diverse ADJ

eclectic ekˈlektɪk adj. & n. --adj. 1 deriving ideas, tastes, style, etc., from various sources. 2 Philos. & Art selecting one's beliefs etc. from various sources; attached to no particular school of philosophy. --n. 1 an eclectic person. 2 a person who subscribes to an eclectic school of thought. øøeclectically adv. eclecticism n. [Gk eklektikos f. eklego pick out]

Eclectic \Ec*lec"tic\, a. [Gr. ?, fr. ? to pick out, choose out: cf. F. ['e]clectique. See Eclogue, and cf. Elect.] 1. Selecting; choosing (what is true or excellent in doctrines, opinions, etc.) from various sources or systems; as, an eclectic philosopher. 2. Consisting, or made up, of what is chosen or selected; as, an eclectic method; an eclectic magazine. Eclectic physician, one of a class of practitioners of medicine, who select their modes of practice and medicines from all schools; formerly, sometimes the same as botanic physician. [U.S.] Eclectic school. (Paint.) See Bolognese school, under Bolognese.

Eclectic \Ec*lec"tic\, n. One who follows an eclectic method.

Eclectic, AL (town, FIPS 22816) Location: 32.63676 N, 86.03474 W Population (1990): 1087 (441 housing units) Area: 9.6 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 36024

eclectic a. Selecting, selective.

126 Moby Thesaurus words for "eclectic": Cyrenaic, Eleatic, Epicurean, Megarian, Stoic, adoptive, amalgamated, ambiguous, ambivalent, amphibious, animist, animistic, appointive, assimilated, assorted, atomistic, blended, broad, catholic, choosing, choosy, combinative, combinatory, combined, complex, composite, compound, compounded, comprehensive, conglomerate, conjoint, conjugate, conjunctive, connective, consolidated, constituent, cosmotheistic, dappled, derived, discerning, discriminating, diverse, diversified, elective, electoral, empirical, equivocal, eudaemonistic, existential, fastidious, fifty-fifty, finicky, fused, fussy, half-and-half, hedonic, hedonist, hedonistic, heterogeneous, humanist, humanistic, idealistic, inclusive, incorporated, indiscriminate, instrumentalist, integrated, intricate, ironic, joined, joint, jumbled, many-sided, materialistic, mechanistic, medley, merged, metaphysical, mingled, miscellaneous, mixed, monistic, motley, multifaceted, multifarious, multiform, multinational, multiracial, naturalistic, nominalist, one, panlogistical, pantheistic, particular, patchy, picky, pluralistic, positivist, positivistic, pragmatic, pragmatist, promiscuous, rationalistic, realist, realistic, scholastic, scrambled, select, selecting, selective, sensationalistic, syncretic, syncretistic, syncretized, synthesized, theistic, thrown together, transcendentalist, transcendentalistic, united, unoriginal, utilitarian, varied, vitalistic, voluntarist, voluntaristic

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