[elec.tive] adj (1531) 1 a: chosen or filled by popular election "an ~ official" b: of or relating to election c: based on the right or principle of election "the presidency is an ~ office"
2. a: permitting a choice: optional "an ~ course in school" b: beneficial to the patient but not essential for survival "~ surgery" 3 a: tending to operate on one substance rather than another "~ absorption" b: favorably inclined to one more than to another: sympathetic "an ~ affinity" -- elec.tive.ly adv -- elec.tive.ness n
[2]elective n (1850): an elective course or subject