early 15c., "voluntary," from Late Latin electivus, from elect-, past participle stem of eligere "to pick out, choose" (see election). In U.S., in reference to school subjects studied at the student's choice, first recorded 1847. As a noun, from 1701.
权威例句
1. Buchanan has never held elective office.
布坎南从未就任过经选举产生的职位。
2. They discussed whether patients should have to pay for all elective surgery.
他们对病人是否应该支付所有非必需手术的费用进行了讨论.
3. Is it nominative or elective?
提名呢还是选举?
4. Most of the students of our class take Japanese as an elective course.
我们班大部分同学选修日语.
5. All offices were elective , generally within a gens , and to that extent hereditary to the gens.