From Latin 'colligere' (to gather together), from PIE *leg- — same root as 'lecture,' 'legend,' 'logic,' and 'elect.'
To bring or gather together; to accumulate items of a particular kind as a hobby or for study.
From Latin 'collēctus,' past participle of 'colligere' (to gather together), from 'com-' (together) + 'legere' (to gather, to pick, to read). The root 'legere' derives from PIE *leǵ- (to gather, to collect), which is one of the most productive roots in the Western vocabulary, yielding words for reading (Latin 'legere'), speaking (Greek 'légein'), and law (Latin 'lēx'). The journey from 'gathering' to 'reading' reflects the ancient practice of picking out letters one by one. Key
The Latin verb 'legere' meant both 'to gather' and 'to read' — because reading was originally understood as 'gathering up' letters from a page. This is why 'collect' (to gather together), 'lecture' (a reading), 'legend' (something to be read), 'lesson' (a reading), and 'legible' (able to be gathered/read) all share the same root, along with 'elegant' (carefully 'picked out') and 'intelligent' (able to 'choose between').
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