ELECTIVE

I. adjective Date: circa 1531 1. chosen or filled by popular election , of or relating to election, based on the right or principle of election , 2. permitting a choice ; optional , beneficial to the patient but not essential for survival , 3. tending to operate on one substance rather than another , favorably inclined to one more than to another ; sympathetic , ~ly adverb ~ness noun II. noun Date: 1850 an ~ course or subject