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e·lite or é·lite  (ĭ-lēt, ā-lēt)
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Tweet n. pl. elite or e·lites or élite or é·lites 1. a. A group or class of persons considered to be superior to others because of their intelligence, social standing, or wealth: "Auguste Comte ... believed that in the age of science society should be ruled by an elite of scientists" (Lewis A. Coser). b. A member of such a group: "Elites don't grant us [sociologists] interviews. They don't let us hang out at their country clubs" (Sudhir Venkatesh). c. The best or most skilled members of a group: the elite of professional tennis. 2. A size of type on a typewriter, equal to 12 characters per linear inch. [French élite, from Old French eslite, from feminine past participle of eslire, to choose, from Latin ēligere; see ELECT.] e·lite adj. |
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