Eclectic

[druiaghtagh]

Meaning of above anyone please?

[Quizmonster]

'Specially chosen', in one sense or another. For example, your 'eclectic round of golf' would be the purely imaginary one consisting of your best score at each hole over a period of time put together as if they had happened during a single round. Even the worst "rabbit" amongst us can usually claim a par round!

[shybearuk]

To clarify a little (Sorry QM. Never thought I'd be doing this to you), it can also be used more generally, in the sense of 'I have an eclectic musical taste', which I do. I like selected songs from different genres, including drum'n'bass, some heavy metal, lots of pop., the odd bit of Dolly Parton, some classical/gregorian chant, trance, ambient, speed garage, 60s psychedelic, grunge, bit of everything really, but I don't have a type of music that I like in particular. Just, as QM suggests, 'specially chosen' songs. From dictionary.com: 1) Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles: an eclectic taste in music; an eclectic approach to managing the economy. 2) Made up of or combining elements from a variety of sources: 'a popular bar patronized by an eclectic collection of artists, writers, secretaries and aging soldiers on reserve duty' (Curtis Wilkie).

[shybearuk]

But the other phrase that usually gets used to denote a varied selection is catholic (note the lower case c), which doesn't have the same sense of randomness to it. Catholic usually means 'just a bit of everything', without so much emphasis being placed on the 'specially selected' part. Again, from dictionary.com: 1) Of broad or liberal scope; comprehensive: 'The 100-odd pages of formulas and constants are surely the most catholic to be found' (Scientific American). 2) Including or concerning all humankind; universal: 'what was of catholic rather than national interest' (J.A. Froude). (as an aside, I do love dictionary.com. Comes in very handy at times like these) :o)

[shybearuk]

From now on, I shall be known as DefinitionMaster ;o)

[FredPuli]

Eclectic once had, perhaps still carries, something of its Greek origins. The Greek word 'eklektikos' meant ' selection ' An eclectic competition in a golf club is one where the competitor chooses his best score for each of the holes on the course from any number of rounds played there in a year and then totals them to make his best, though fictional, 'round' . An Eclectic philosopher was one who carefully took bits of various teachings to make his own philosophy. So it suggests a deliberate taking of what seems best and rejecting the rest. Catholic simply means having sympathies with all, regardless; so catholic taste should be more general; it means liking anything without being particular in accepting and rejecting; without positively selecting some things and rejecting all else' absolutely; taking all as acceptable. However the OED has 'eclectic' as 'borrowing freely from various sources; broad rather than exclusive in matters of opinion, taste' so it may now be moving closer to 'catholic' .