1. To gather things and to bring them together.
2. To gain or regain control of oneself and deliberately calm oneself.
3. Directly or via French from medieval Latin collectare, from Latin collect-, past participle stem of colligere, literally “to gather together”, from legere, “to gather, read” (source of English lecture).

A selection of pieces of writing by an author or by several authors.

An object of a type that is valued or sought after by collectors.

1. Manner of speaking, language, speech; especially a manner of speech peculiar to, or characteristic of, a particular person or class; phraseology, idiom.
2. One of the subordinate forms or varieties of a language arising from local peculiarities of vocabulary, pronunciation, and idiom. (In relation to modern languages usually specifically, a variety of speech differing from the standard or literary language; a provincial method of speech, as in speakers of dialect). Also in a wider sense applied to a particular language in its relation to the family of languages to which it belongs.

1. The art of critical examination into the truth of an opinion; the investigation of truth by discussion: in earlier English use, a synonym of logic as applied to formal rhetorical reasoning; logical argumentation or disputation.
2. In modern Philosophy; specifically applied by Kant to the criticism which shows the mutually contradictory character of the principles of science, when they are employed to determine objects beyond the limits of experience (i.e. the soul, the world, God); by Hegel (who denies that such contradictions are ultimately irreconcilable) the term is applied (a) to the process of thought by which such contradictions are seen to merge themselves in a higher truth that comprehends them; and (b) to the world-process, which, being in his view but the thought-process on its objective side, develops similarly by a continuous unification of opposites.

The study of dialects; that branch of philology which treats of dialects.

Constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent application and endeavor; industry, assiduity.

1. Of persons: constant in application, persevering in endeavour, assiduous, industrious; not idle, not negligent, not lazy.
2. Of actions, etc.: Constantly or steadily applied; prosecuted with activity and perserverance; assiduous.

1. Choosing what is best or preferred from a variety of sources or styles.
2. Made up of elements from various sources.

1. Picked out, chosen; also, chosen for excellence or by preference; select, choice.
2. To choose someone by a vote, e.g., for public office, an official role, or membership of some group.
3. To make a decision to do something.

An organized event at which someone is chosen for something, especially a public office, by vote.
2. In religion, the fact of being chosen by God, or God’s act of choosing someone for salvation, a task, or special favor.

1. Involving or concerned with voting.
2. Chosen by a vote, or whose holder is chosen by a vote.
3. In education, optional rather than essential or compulsory; an optional course that a student may select from among several alternatives.

All the officially qualified voters within a given country or area or for a given election.

1. Stylishly graceful, and showing sophistication and good taste in appearance or behavior.
2. Satisfyingly and often ingeniously neat, simple, or concise.
3. Via French from Latin elegans, “choice”, from, ultimately, eligire, “to pick out” (source of English elect).

1. Entitled or qualified to do, be, or get something.
2. Considered a good candidate for marriage.
3. Someone who or something that meets a set of requirements.

Belonging to an elite, especially in being more talented, privileged, or highly trained that the rest.

An individual person’s vocabulary and particular and unique way of using language.

Impossible or very difficult to read.

1. Someone's ability to think, reason, and understand.
2. Very intelligent and knowledgeable.

1. The ability to learn facts and skills and apply them; especially, when this ability is highly developed.
2. Information about secret plans or activities, especially those of foreign governments, the armed forces, business enemies, or criminals.
3. From Latin intelligent-, formed from intellegere, “to perceive, discern”, from inter-, “between” plus legere, “to choose, read”.

1. Having intelligence, especially to a highly developed degree.
2. Aware, knowledgeable, or informed.
3. From Latin intelligent-, formed from intellegere, “to perceive, discern”, from inter-, “between” plus legere, “to choose, read” (source of English select and legible).

The most intelligent, intellectual, or highly educated members of a society or community, especially those who are interested in the arts, literature, philosophy, and politics.

1. Capable of being understood.
2. Perceptible only by the mind, not the senses.

1. A tall slender table with a slanted top on which an open book can rest, used in churches and temples for reading scriptures to the congregation.
2. A stand with a slanted top on which a book or lecture notes can rest before a standing speaker.

The reading of a text in a particular edition or translation.

1. An educational speech on a particular subject made before an audience.
2. To reprimand by making a speech about how one should behave.

1. A story that has been passed down for generations; especially, one that is presented as history but is unlikely to be true.
2. A popular myth that has arisen in modern times.
3. Someone famous who is admired for a particular skill or talent.

1. Clear enough to be read; readable.
2. Capable of being easily understood or recognized.

1. In ancient Rome, a Roman army division of 3 000 to 6 000 soldiers, including cavalry.
2. A large number of people or things.
3. An association of ex-servicemen and ex-service women.

1. A period of time spent teaching or learning a subject.
2. Some useful knowledge or sense that results from direct experience.
3. The underlying sense is “something to read or listen to”.

1. To fail to give the proper or required care and attention to someone or something.
2. To fail to do something, especially because of carelessness or forgetfulness.

A woman's long nightgown made of thin silky often see-through fabric. The underlying idea is of having failed to get fully dressed.

1. Habitually careless or irresponsible.
2. In law, guilty of failing to provide a proper or reasonable level of care.

1. To bring something back to mind.
2. Remembering something or the ability to remember.

1. To choose someone or something from among several.
2. Chosen on the basis of some particularly high quality.

An act of choosing someone or something from a wide variety of others.

1. Applying to some but not to others.
2. Tending to make careful choices.

The supposed foretelling of the future by drawing lots; the practice of magic or sorcery. From Latin sortilegus, “prophetic, soothsayer” [sors, “lot, fortune” plus legere, “to read”.