choosev.

Brit.

/tʃuːz/, U.S.

/tʃuz/

Inflections: Past tense chose

/tʃəʊz/, (past participle) chosen

/ˈtʃəʊz(ə)n/;

Forms: 1. Present stem.

α. Old English ciose, Old English céose, Middle English cése, Middle English cheose, Middle English chese, Middle English chyese, Middle English chiese, Middle English chise, Middle English cheese, Middle English chees, Middle English chess, Middle English schese, Middle English cheyss (Scottish), Middle English–1500s cheise. OE Beowulf 2376 Þæt he..þone cynedom ciosan wolde.OE Genesis 1867 Heht hine wine ceosan.a1131 Anglo-Saxon Chron. ann. 1123 Þæt hi scoldon cesen hem ærcebiscop.a1175 Cott. Hom. 219 Hi habben aȝen chire, to chiesen ȝief [h]y wolden..lufie.c1175 Lamb. Hom. 71 To þin aȝen us ches.a1225 St. Marher. 3 Ich cheose hire to cheuese.a1300 K. Horn 664 Þe fiss þat ihc wolde cheose.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 86 Huer by he conne chyese þet guode.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 93 He..wolde chise..þe gostliche blisse.1340 Ayenb. 626 Þet..chyest al þet him may helpe. ▸ c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Philipp. i. 22 What I schal cheese [a1425 L.V. chese], I knowe not.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 8552 Chese [Gött. Ches, Trin. Cambr. Chees, Fairf. chose] quilk þou will.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 8409 Quam godd will chesse Kyng efter þe for-soth beess.c1420 Pallad. on Husb. i. 84 Land to chees eke must thou yeme.a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail lvi. l. 339 Now Mown ȝe schese.1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 43 To cheys a king.a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 1611 For thow shuld euer chess apone sich wyss.1528 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iv, in Wks. 247/2 Men may..chese and hold y^e right way.1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius Cathechisme or Schort Instr. 142 To doo guid and cheise yam ane right tred of lyf.

β. Middle English–1500s chose. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 2462 Þou chose to wone in queþer side, queþer þou choses [so always in this MS.].c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 451 To þe grene chapel þou chose.1528 T. More Dialogue Heresyes i, in Wks. 165/2 We be likely to chose wel ynoughe.1534 Bible (Tyndale rev. Joye) Phil. i. 22 What to chose I wot not [so Cranmer, and Geneva; Rhemish choose; 1611 chuse; Wyclif 1382 cheese, 1388 chese].1535 Bible (Coverdale) Josh. xxiv. D Chose you this daye whom ye wyll serue.c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 12339 Chose you sum cheftane, & charge hym þerwith.a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) ii. f. 46 Ye shall not chose but speake rudelie.a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) i. f. 26 Now chose you, you Italian English men, whether you will be angrie with vs.1582 Bible (Rheims) Heb. xi. 25 Rather chosing to be afflicted [ Wycl. chesynge; 1611 chusing, (mod. edd. and 1881 choosing].

γ. 1500s– choose. 1545 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Luke in Paraphr. New Test. (1548) f. 82^v He cannot choose but reuiue again.1568 Bible (Bishops') Zech. ii. 12 The Lorde..shal choose [ Coverd. chose] Hierusalem yet agayne.1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 253 I cannot choose but muse.1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 646 The World was all before them, where to choose.1800 W. Wordsworth in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads II. 77 Sing another song, or chuse another tree.

δ. Middle English–1800s chuse (archaic). The first quot. is of doubtful phonetic significance.c1300 St. Margarete 103 Chus weþer þu wold..to deþe beon ibroȝt Oþer honoury our godes.1340–70 Alisaunder 140 Hee chused too chasen hem þere.c1400 Mandeville's Trav. 221 Who so wille not, may chuse.1642 D. Rogers Naaman Ep. Ded. sig. A2^v How can our lives chuze but be sad.1760 S. Johnson Idler 2 Feb. 33 At Liberty to chuse their Business.1814 W. Scott Waverley I. ix. 121 Would not Mr. Waverley chuse some refreshment after his journey?1832 C. T. Moore Country Houses III. vi. 208 In chusing carriages and jewels.

2. Past tense. a. Strong. (i). 1st and 3rd singular.

α. Old English céas, Middle English cheas, Middle English chæs, Middle English chēs, Middle English chees, Middle English chese, Middle English chess. a1000 Ps. (Spelm.) cxviii[i]. 173 Bebodu ðine ic ceas.c1175 Lamb. Hom. 229 Þa aceas he him leorninchnihtes.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 13930 Ne chæs himm nohht te laferrd crist.c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 139 He..ches þere crundel to halle.c1230 Hali Meid. 15 He cheas hire.c1369 G. Chaucer Bk. Duchesse 791 I chees [v.r. ches, chese] loue to my first crafte.c1400 Mandeville's Trav. 1 That lond he chees.a1450 Knt. de la Tour 111 God ches and ordeyned hym.

β. Middle English chās, Middle English chaas, Middle English–1500s chase, Middle English chace, 1800s chaise (Scottish). a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20914 Naild on þe rod he was, Als for be he-self it chas [Gött., Fairf. ches].c1410 N. Love tr. Bonaventura Mirror Life Christ (Gibbs MS.) vi Cryst..chaas þat is moste harde to þe fleche.c1440 W. Hylton Scala Perfeccionis (1494) i. lxx He chase hym to his apostle.a1450 Knt. de la Tour xiv. 20 And thus he chace her.c1460 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Laud) l. 9875 A clene stede he chas.1484 W. Caxton tr. Ordre of Chyualry (1926) i. 4 A wyse knyght..chaas to hym an heremytage.1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. xx. sig. Kiij^v Whom God chase..to be kynge.

γ. chose. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke vi. 13 Of them he chose twelve [so all 16th c. vv., Wyclif chees].1611 Bible (King James) Acts xv. 40 Paul chose Silas, and departed.1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto I xix. 12 A mortal..Who chose to go where'er he had a mind.

(ii). 2nd singular Old English–Middle English cure, Middle English chure, 1800s chosest. a1225 Juliana 60 Þu chure..abráám isahac & iacob. (iii). Plural.

α. Old English curon, Middle English curen. So subjunctive.OE Genesis 1803 Him þa wic curon.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 3434 Þe..eorles..curen heom enne king [c1300 Otho chosen].

β. Middle English chose, Middle English chosen, Middle English– chose. 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 400 Roberd Courtehese hii chose to cheuenteyne.a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 543 He chosen hem wiwes.c1330 Arth. & Merl. 7389 Tho schosen thai..A noble knight.1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Gen. vi. 2 Alle the whiche thei chosen [v.r. chesden].1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 30 Of Alemaine princes seven They chose.1611 Bible (King James) Acts vi. 5 They chose Steuen [so all 16th c. vv.].a1790 B. Franklin Autobiogr. (1981) iii. 150 [They] chose me to be Colonel.

γ. Middle English chesen, Middle English chese, Middle English ches, Middle English chees, Middle English chess. ▸ a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 283 Þe Romayns chees hym afterwardes.?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 6462 Þe Inglis þerto ches.a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Luke xiv. 7 Thei chesen [v.r. chosen, chesiden] the firste seetis.c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 9627 Þai..Ches hym for cheftain.

δ. Middle English–1500s (1800s Scottish) chase. c1440 Generydes 1325 They chase hym kyng.c1470 J. Hardyng Chron. (1812) 31 Thei all accorded by one assent, And chase Philip.1555 W. Waterman tr. J. Boemus Fardle of Facions i. i. 28 That part of Arabia, that he, and his, chase to be theirs.

b. Weak Middle English chesid, Middle English chesed, Middle English–1500s cheseden (plural), Middle English–1500s chesiden (plural), Middle English–1500s chesden (plural), Middle English chesit (Scottish), Middle English–1700s chused, 1500s chosed, 1500s–1700s choosed. a1340 R. Rolle Psalter Ps. xxi. 5 Þai chesid baraban þe thefe.1340–70 Alisaunder 140 For þis enchesoun hee chused too chasen hem þere.1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Gen. vi. 2 Which thei chesden [v.r. chosen]. ▸ c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke xiv. 7 Thei chesiden [a1400 N.Y. Publ. Lib. chosen; a1425 L.V. chesen] the firste seetis. ▸ c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Deeds vi. 5 Thei cheesiden [a1400 N.Y. Publ. Lib. chosen; a1425 L.V. chesiden] Stheuene.c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 41 He chesid to be maid þe lowist.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Isa. lxv. B Ye..chosed the thinge that pleased me not.1568 Christis Kirk on Grene in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1928) II. 264 He chesit a flane.1598 G. Chapman tr. Homer Seauen Bks. Iliades iv. 130 Mean space, with all his care he choosed.1624 T. Heywood Γυναικεῖον iii. 143 She..chused one who seemed to excel all the rest.1722 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 688 Which they choosed rather to do.1788 London Mag. 538 As many goats as they chused to take. 3. Past participle. a. Strong.

α. Middle English coren, Middle English corn, Middle English koren, Middle English core. (More frequently ycore adj.)a1000 Anglo-Saxon Chron. ann. 656 (end) And Cuðbald wæs coren to abbot.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 8163 Of his ferde coren.1330 Roland & V. (1836) 16 Our kinde lord y-corn.c1330 Amis & Amil. 1431 That was so comly corn.1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 415 Þei ben kindeli coren.1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 407 Comelokur corn þan hur kynde askyþ.c1420 Chron. Vilod. 409 When he was Kyng furst y Kore.c1420 Chron. Vilod. 1079 Willyham Conqueror to þe Kyndam of Englond was core.

β. Middle English– chosen, Middle English chosin, Middle English chosyn, Middle English chosun. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 15701 He þeȝȝm..chosenn haffde.1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 62 Any of hem y^t is schosyn.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 10859 He has þe chosin [Vesp. chosen].1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) xix. lxiii. sig. kkvii^v/2 Chosen [a1398 BL Add. chose] mylke..shall haue foure qualytees.1775 S. Johnson Taxation no Tyranny 39 He has chosen, or intended to chuse.1875 W. S. Jevons Money 5 If any one commodity be chosen.

γ. Middle English– chose. Occasional in Middle English, but very frequent in 18th cent.a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3379 A stif man & a stern..cheueteyn was chose.a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 48 Poule was not chose be Crist in his lyue.1704 J. Swift Full Acct. Battel between Bks. in Tale of Tub 251 We have rather chose to fill our Hives.1709 J. Strype Ann. Reformation ii. xl. 53 The French King was chose of the Order.1728 R. Morris Ess. Anc. Archit. 90 I have chose this Ionick Example.1819 R. Southey Select. from Lett. (1856) III. 206 Since the armies..have chose to interfere.

b. Weaka1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) vi. iii. 139 The banys, walit by and naitly chosit.1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccccxiv. 725 They be chosed men of warre.1606 G. Chapman Monsieur D'Oliue in Plays (1873) I. 211 In that freely choos'd obscuritie.1631 G. Chapman Warres of Pompey & Caesar in Plays (1873) III. 128 Chus'd by him, To be his blacke Guard.

Etymology: Old English céos-an , strong verb, belonging to the Old Germanic ablaut-series eu , au —u , u . By reason of internal consonant-mutation (s to z and r ), in Old Germanic and West Germanic, and by Old English palatalization of c , the inflection of this verb presented, in the Old English and early Middle English stages, various phonetic differences, which were subsequently levelled under the influence of analogy; while new phonetic or analogical influences changed the present and past stems in various directions, so that not one of its modern forms is the normal phonetic representative of the corresponding Old English form. The Old Germanic inflection was keus- , kaus —kuzum , kuzano- (with original s changed to z by Verner's Law), Gothic kius- , kaus —kusum , kusans ; in West Germanic with development of z to r , kios- , kaus (Old Saxon and Old High German kôs )—kuri —kurum , koran , whence Old English céosan , céas —cure —curon , coren (with c palatal in céosan , céas , but guttural in cur- , cor- ). Hence regularly in Middle English, cheose (chēse , with close ē ), cheas (chēs , with open ē )— 2nd singular cure ,—plural curen , coren . The first change upon this was the levelling of the consonant differences in the past participle coren , which (though retained as corn , core , in south-western dialect to 15th cent.) was by 1200 assimilated to the general consonantism of the verb as chosen (perhaps through an intermediate choren : compare chure in Forms 3 singular preterite); this was subsequently often reduced to chose , but the full form is the survivor. By assimilation to this the plural preterite curen became chosen , and in due course chose , still used. The prevalent Middle English form of the preterite singular was chēs ; but there was also chās , apparently representing Old English c^eās , for céas . In later Middle English, and especially in northern and north midland dialect, these were also used for the plural; and by similar levelling the plural chose was also used as singular, apparently only after 1500, and is now the standard form. In the present stem, Old English céose , early Middle English chéose , normally gave chēse , cheese , which survived to c1500, and later in Scots But a type chōse appears in the 14th cent. and lasted till c1575 (in More, Coverdale, Ascham); before 1550 the type choose is found. Probably Middle English chōse represented Old English c^eōse , for céose , and regularly passed into choose : compare lose , in later pronunciation /luːz/. The chief difficulty attaches to the type chuse . This was no mere variant spelling of choose , but a much earlier form, which occurs somewhat sporadically in Middle English, but became very frequent in 16th cent. (when it rhymed with amuse , refuse , excuse ). Choose and chuse are used indiscriminately in the Bible of 1611 and the First Folio of Shakespeare: chuse was by far the prevailing form in 17–18th cent., but has in the 19th been gradually superseded by choose , which Dr. Johnson, following Bailey, took as the canonical form in his Dictionary, although in his own practice he appears to have spelt chuse.(All other words in -use, as abuse, accuse, amuse, refuse, ruse, are of French origin; and in some Scots dialects chuse has still the sound of French u. Of Old French choisir, Littré gives Picard forms keusir, Walloon chûzî, Rouchi chusir.) On these various types of the present stem were formed weak types of the past tense, chesed , chosed , choosed , chused , used alongside of the various strong forms already mentioned; none of them are now recognized in standard English, though some exist in the dialects. Perhaps these were in some measure due to a tendency to identify the English verb with the French choisir —a tendency which is distinctly marked in the rise of the by-form choise v., choised, formerly used in English, and still the ordinary word for choose in the south of Scotland.

a. transitive. To take by preference out of all that are available; to select; to take as that which one prefers, or in accordance with one's free will and preference.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > choose [verb (transitive)]

choosec893

achooseeOE

i-cheoseOE

curea1225

choise1505

to make choice of1588

pitch1628

to fix on or upon1653

trysta1694

pick1824

to prick for1828

plump1848

to come down1886

plunk1935

c893 tr. Orosius Hist. i. x. §1 Him sædon þæt..hie him woldon oðerra wera ceosan.

c1230 Hali Meid. 15 He cheas hire bimong alle wimmen for to beon his moder.

138. Antecrist in R. B. Todd 3 Treat. Wyclif 151 Antecrist cheseþ to hise discyples þe sotil and slyȝe.

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 278 Leuy and hise children..God chase to be preestis.

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. xxvi. sig. Yy7 Choose thee what armes thou likest.

1611 Bible (King James) Num. xvii. 5 The mans rod whom I shall choose, shall blossome.

1647 T. May Hist. Parl. iii. iii. 51 Writs of Election..for chusing new Members.

1684 Earl of Roscommon Ess. Translated Verse 7 Chuse an Author as you chuse a Friend.

1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. xii. 251 They chuse for the combat the darkest hour of the night.

1854 C. Kingsley Lett. (1878) I. 431 If each drop of rain chose where it should fall.

1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. ii. 151 She had a right to choose the course which seemed the best to herself.

Categories »

b. Theology. Of God: ‘To elect for eternal happiness; to predestinate to life’ (Johnson). Cf. chosen adj.

c. with complement, as ‘to choose a man king’.

ΚΠ

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 10859 Vr lauerd has chosen þe his lemman [Gött. þe chosin to his lemman].

c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 2523 Sir Aufreus thei chosen king.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) i. iii. 65 I would the Colledge of the Cardinalls Would chuse him Pope.

1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. i. 74 How could he be chosen arbitratour?

1764 S. Foote Mayor of Garret ii. 40 Have unanimously chosen you mayor.

2. with infinitive object: To determine in favour of a course, to decide in accordance with inclination. to choose rather: to resolve (to do one thing) in preference (to another).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > choose [verb (transitive)] > choose to do something

have1340

choosea1400

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 22087 Criste him seluin chese Be borne in bethlem for ure ese.

1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) i. ii. 12 Chees rather to dye than lenger to lyue.

c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 41 He chesid to be maad þe lowist.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection Pref. sig. Ai Some chose to go by the world, & some by religion.

1611 Bible (King James) Heb. xi. 25 Chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sinne for a season.

1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. iii. 51 [He] chooses to forego the Pleasure, rather than endure the Pain.

1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits iii. 41 A wise traveller will naturally choose to visit the best of actual nations.

3. The notion of a choice between alternatives is often left quite in the background, and the sense is little more than an emphatic equivalent of, To will, to wish, to exercise one's own pleasure in regard to a matter in which one is a free agent.

a. esp. with infinitive. To think fit, to be pleased (to do so and so). not to choose (to do a thing): not to be pleased and therefore to forbear.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > wish or inclination > wish or be disposed or inclined [verb]

willeOE

listc1200

to be of (also in) (a) minda1325

to will well that1340

likea1375

to find in one's hearta1393

to have a minda1400

pleasec1450

set1470

to have a mind1530

care1560

fadge1592

please1611

choose1622

offer1639

to feel like1808

1622 R. Sanderson Two Serm. Boston i. 4 He chuseth to forbeare those meates.

1768 O. Goldsmith Good Natur'd Man iv. 45 He chuses to remain concealed.

1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer ii. 27 When I travel, I always chuse to regulate my own supper.

1794 E. Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 253 The lot of those who will choose to go to sleep on the edge of Dover cliff.

1801 M. Edgeworth Forester in Moral Tales I. 129 He did not choose to keep a clerk, who was not in his interests.

1849 W. M. Thackeray Pendennis (1850) I. xxvii. 257 Pendennis chose to assume a very gloomy and frowning countenance.

1853 Arab. Nights (Rtldg.) 269 He did not choose to speak to her in public.

b. To wish to have, to want. nonstandard.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > [verb (transitive)]

willeOE

wilnec897

desirec1230

catcha1350

appetec1385

appetitec1385

to wait after ——1393

to set (also have, keep, turn) one's mind onc1450

list1545

exopt1548

to have a mind1553

desiderate1646

lust1653

to have eyes for1657

like1685

want1698

choose1766

to be stuck on1878

1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. ii. 46 The landlady now returned to know if we did not chuse a more genteel apartment.

1788 G. Colman Ways & Means i. i. 2 Do you chuse any refreshment, Sir?

1814 [see δ. forms].

1871 M. S. De Vere Americanisms 453 A dish offered at table is declined with the words ‘I don't choose any’.

†c. To take, accept, or embrace what is offered; not to refuse. (Only in Old English.)

ΚΠ

OE Beowulf 2376 Þæt he..þone cynedom ciosan wolde.

OE Beowulf 2818 Þæt wæs þam gomelan gingæste word..ær he bæl cure.

OE Genesis 2444 Hie on þanc curon æðelinges est.

a. intransitive or absol. To exercise choice; to make a selection between different things or alternatives.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > exercise choice [verb (intransitive)]

choosec1175

walec1400

willc1405

to be one's own carver1578

to take one's choice1588

optate1611

c1175 Cott. Hom. 219 To chiesen ȝief [h]y wolden hare sceappinde lufie, oðer hine ferleten.

1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 7885 Muche of þys lond wyllede Roberd Courthese To be Kyng of Engelond, ȝyf hii myȝte chese.

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 184 If God take upon him forto pointe and chese tho places.

1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie i. vii. 59 To choose is to will one thing before another.

1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. vii. 60 Heere doe I choose, and thriue I as I may.

1722 D. Defoe Relig. Courtship i. i. 12 Give her leave to chuse to her own liking.

18.. Prescott (O.) They had only to choose between implicit obedience and open rebellion.

†b. To exercise one's own pleasure, do as one likes, take one's own way; esp. as an alternative to something suggested and rejected. Obsolete or dialect.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > wish or inclination > be inclined [verb (intransitive)] > do as one wishes

pleasec1350

choosec1400

to be at one's choice1569

swinge1613

c1400 Mandeville's Trav. xx. 221 Whoso that wole, may leve me ȝif he wille; and who so wille not, may chuse.

1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. ii. 46 & you will not haue me, choose.

1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 137 Neverout. Miss, shall I help you to a Pigeon?.. Miss. No, Sir; I thank you. Neverout. Why, then you may chuse.

1778 F. Burney Evelina I. xxi. 143 If Miss does not think us fine enough for her, why to be sure she may chuse.

1887 T. Darlington Folk-speech S. Cheshire ‘Ah sall choose tell him’ [I shall tell him or not, as I choose].

a. cannot choose = have no alternative, cannot do otherwise, cannot help. (Also interrogative: see quot. 1592.) Obsolete except as in 5b.

ΚΠ

a1400 Cov. Myst., Abraham 54 Alas, dere childe, I may not chese, I must nedys my swete sone kylle.

1500 God Speed plough (Skeat) 35 Thus be we shepe shorne, we may not chese.

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xviii. 21 Without any rest, but at suche passages as they coulde nat chese.

1592 A. Day 2nd Pt. Eng. Secretorie sig. C3^v, in Eng. Secretorie (rev. ed.) How can it otherwise choose? is not the matter plaine and euident?

a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 187 'Tis a good dulnesse, And giue it way: I know thou canst not chuse.

a1617 S. Hieron Bargaine of Salt in Wks. (1620) II. 499 There are some differences of opinion, as it cannot bee chosen.

1709 G. Berkeley Ess. New Theory of Vision §101. 116 One cannot chuse seeing, what part of the Man is nearest the Earth.

b. constr. with but. (archaic)

ΚΠ

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. f. xl^v/1 I can nat chuse but to muse, nor I cannat tell what shall fall therof.

1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 272^v Suche..crueltee..as could not choose afterwarde but redound to his..confusion.

1556 R. Robinson tr. T. More Utopia (ed. 2) sig. Kiiii^v It cannot be chosen, but that they muste.

1557 T. North tr. A. de Guevara Diall Princes (1582) 412 He cannot chose but he must fall downe flat to the grounde.

1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. i. 106 He cannot choose but breake.

1619 W. Sclater Expos. 1 Thess. (1630) 295 Canst thou chuse now but say, God is in vs, of a truth?

1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxv There cannot choose but be some whose interests are contrary.

1676 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Iliads ii. 240 He could not chuse but laugh.

1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xv. 70 I could not chuse but to forgive her!

1798 S. T. Coleridge Anc. Marinere i, in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 6 The wedding-guest sate on a stone, He cannot chuse but hear.

1837 Morning Post 24 Nov. 6/1 The enlightened leather-sellers, greengrocers, and coalmongers..cannot choose but be edified by the biography of the itinerant agitator.

1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust I. Prol. 15 While Man's desires and aspirations stir, He cannot choose but err.

1886 J. A. Froude Oceana viii When earth is so kind, men cannot choose but be happy.

1919 Pop. Sci. July 34/3 A bottle holder..will keep the bottle aimed directly at the baby's lips... He cannot choose but eat.

†6. To ‘pick up’; to take, collect, or gather at pleasure. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > taking > take [verb (transitive)] > take at will or pleasure

choosea1300

carve1578

a1300 K. Horn 664 Ihc wene þat ihc schal leose Þe fiss þat ihc wolde cheose.

c1320 Cast. Loue 1317 Such strengþe he him þo ches Þat prince of al þe world he wes.

1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Gen. xli. 18 Seuen oxen..the whiche in the pasture of mershe the grene leswis cheseden.

†7. To pick out by sight, distinguish, discern, perceive. Obsolete.[An ancient sense; also in Old High German and in French choisir.]

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (transitive)] > succeed in seeing or catch sight of

underyetec1000

aspya1250

kenc1275

ofyetec1275

choosea1300

akenc1300

descrivec1300

ofkenc1300

readc1300

espyc1320

descryc1330

spyc1380

discernc1405

discover1553

scan1558

scry1558

decern1559

describe1574

to make out1575

escry1581

interview1587

display1590

to set sight of (in)c1595

sight1602

discreevec1650

glance1656

to catch a glimpse of1679

steal1731

oversee1735

glimpse1779

twig1796

to clap eyes on1838

spot1848

sky1900

the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupy or busy oneself [verb (reflexive)] > devote or apply oneself

choosea1300

yield?a1366

givea1400

employ1439

applyc1450

poura1500

intend?1504

delivera1533

addict1534

bequeath1558

bend1591

devotea1616

devow1626

surrendera1732

puzzle1751

a1300 Havelok 2147 Men Mouhte se by þe liht A peni chesen, so was it briht.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 86 Huer~by hi conne chyese: þet guode uram þe kueade.

c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 798 Chalk-whyt chymnees þer ches he in-noȝe.

c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 13509 By the chere of achilles he chese hym onone.

†8.

a. to choose one's way or to choose one's gate: to take one's way, proceed or go (of one's own accord). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > [verb (intransitive)]

nimeOE

becomec885

teec888

goeOE

i-goc900

lithec900

wendeOE

i-farec950

yongc950

to wend one's streetOE

fare971

i-wende971

shakeOE

winda1000

meteOE

wendOE

strikec1175

seekc1200

wevec1200

drawa1225

stira1225

glidea1275

kenc1275

movec1275

teemc1275

tightc1275

till1297

chevec1300

strake13..

travelc1300

choosec1320

to choose one's gatea1325

journeyc1330

reachc1330

repairc1330

wisec1330

cairc1340

covera1375

dressa1375

passa1375

tenda1375

puta1382

proceedc1392

doa1400

fanda1400

haunta1400

snya1400

take?a1400

thrilla1400

trace?a1400

trinea1400

fangc1400

to make (also have) resortc1425

to make one's repair (to)c1425

resort1429

ayrec1440

havea1450

speer?c1450

rokec1475

wina1500

hent1508

persevere?1521

pursuec1540

rechec1540

yede1563

bing1567

march1568

to go one's ways1581

groyl1582

yode1587

sally1590

track1590

way1596

frame1609

trickle1629

recur1654

wag1684

fadge1694

haul1802

hike1809

to get around1849

riddle1856

bat1867

biff1923

truck1925

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2736 Ðo bi-thowte him moyses, And his weige ðeðen ches.

c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 146 William..his way to Scotland ches.

?a1400 Morte Arth. 1225 To-warde Castelle Blanke he chesez hym the waye.

c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 930 Chaplayneȝ to þe chapeles chosen þe gate.

c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 490 The Knightes..Intill a chaumber..chosen þere way.

†b. Hence simply to choose in same sense. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > [verb (intransitive)]

nimeOE

becomec885

teec888

goeOE

i-goc900

lithec900

wendeOE

i-farec950

yongc950

to wend one's streetOE

fare971

i-wende971

shakeOE

winda1000

meteOE

wendOE

strikec1175

seekc1200

wevec1200

drawa1225

stira1225

glidea1275

kenc1275

movec1275

teemc1275

tightc1275

till1297

chevec1300

strake13..

travelc1300

choosec1320

to choose one's gatea1325

journeyc1330

reachc1330

repairc1330

wisec1330

cairc1340

covera1375

dressa1375

passa1375

tenda1375

puta1382

proceedc1392

doa1400

fanda1400

haunta1400

snya1400

take?a1400

thrilla1400

trace?a1400

trinea1400

fangc1400

to make (also have) resortc1425

to make one's repair (to)c1425

resort1429

ayrec1440

havea1450

speer?c1450

rokec1475

wina1500

hent1508

persevere?1521

pursuec1540

rechec1540

yede1563

bing1567

march1568

to go one's ways1581

groyl1582

yode1587

sally1590

track1590

way1596

frame1609

trickle1629

recur1654

wag1684

fadge1694

haul1802

hike1809

to get around1849

riddle1856

bat1867

biff1923

truck1925

c1320 Sir Trist. 2642 Into bretein he ches.

?a1400 Morte Arth. 1619 To-wardez Chartris they chese, these cheualrous knyghttez.

c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 451 To þe grene chapel þou chose.

c1440 Sir Gowther 312 Til the hegh borde he chese.

†c. intransitive. To ‘take’ or accede to (a course). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > agreement > consent > [verb (intransitive)]

consent?c1225

assent1297

vouchsafe13..

choosec1330

grant1340

to be consentedc1386

to be covined1393

apply1419

condescend1477

agreea1533

acconsent1560

acclaim1620

comply1672

c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 51 If he wille þe lond ȝeld, & to þe pes chese.

c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 270 Vnto þat conseil ches þe kyng of Almayn.

?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 6462 Þe Inglis þerto ches.

†9. To resolve upon, agree to have. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > decision > resolve or decide [verb (intransitive)]

choosec1320

definec1374

to take advisementa1393

appointc1440

conclude1452

to come to (an) anchor?1473

deliber1485

determine1509

resolvea1528

rest1530

deliberate1550

point1560

decide1572

to set (up) one's rest1572

to set down one's rest1578

to make account1583

to fix the staff1584

to take a party1585

fadge1592

set1638

determinate1639

pitch1666

devise1714

pre-resolve1760

settle1782

to make up one's mind1859

c1320 Sir Trist. 65 A turnament thai ches Wiþ kniȝtes stiþe on stede.

†10. reflexive. to choose oneself to: to set or devote oneself to. Obsolete. [The original construction is doubtful; the pronoun may have been governed by following to.]

ΚΠ

c1394 P. Pl. Crede 684 Falshed of freres haþ..maid hem to leuen Here charite and chastite, & [chesen] hem to lustes.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 144 Moyses þat goddis folk to lede him ches.]

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 13304 Þai þaim to þis lauerd ches, Alle þai forsoke þis worldes ese.

c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 8270 Achilles, þou cheses þe fast, For to prese me with pyne.

11. to choose out. To pick out, select and take.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > types of choice > choose in specific way [verb (transitive)] > select from a number or for a purpose

markOE

to choose out1297

out-trya1325

cullc1330

welec1330

try1340

walea1350

coil1399

drawa1400

to mark outa1450

electa1513

sorta1535

prick1536

exempta1538

select1567

sort1597

to gather out1611

single1629

delibate1660

to cut out1667

outlooka1687

draught1714

draft1724

to tell off1727

1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 2415 The strengeste me schal bi choys..chese out.

c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) xcii. 294 He chase out x. thousande of the moost valyauntes men in his company.

1611 Bible (King James) Exod. xvii. 9 Moses said vnto Ioshua, Choose vs out men.

1684 R. Waller tr. Ess. Nat. Exper. Acad. del Cimento 35 Chuse out the smoothest and evenest Glass Cane.

1928 P. Dearmer et al. Oxf. Bk. Carols 45 Joseph is chosen out from the other suitors by the budding of his rod.

1945 A. L. Rowse West-Country Stories 192 Sir Thomas Arundell, who chose out and fastened upon this spot.

12. Phrases. to pick and choose: to select with careful scrutiny. †to choose: as a thing to choose; hence adv.: by choice, in preference. Obsolete. not much, not a pin (or the like) to choose between them: no ground of preference or difference.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > types of choice > choice [phrase] > by preference

by, for, of (in, with) choice1303

to choose1577

the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > types of choice > choose in specific way [verb (transitive)] > select from a number or for a purpose > carefully

picka1393

to choose and pickc1450

to pick and choose (also cull)c1450

to pick out1530

to pick and choose1577

hand-picka1699

the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > types of choice > choice [phrase] > by preference > no ground of preference

not much, not a pin (or the like) to choose between them1887

1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. I. ii. vii. sig. M.vij^v/1 They..can..picke and choose out the beste.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iv. iv. 176 I thinke there is not halfe a kisse to choose Who loues another best.

1627 R. Sanderson Ten Serm. 264 But the worthy Magistrate would meet with such a Lyon to choose.

a1670 J. Hacket Scrinia Reserata (1693) ii. 222 The Scots, to chuse, prefer a monarchy before any other government.

1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. i. 69 What made thee pick and choose her out?

1740 S. Richardson Pamela II. 136 O then, said Miss Darnford, pray let us hear it, to chuse.

1754 J. Edwards Careful Enq. Freedom of Will ii. iii. 45 Contingence is blind, and does not pick and choose for a particular Sort of Events.

1887 ‘E. Lyall’ Knight-errant II. vi. 146 I can't see that there's a pin to choose between me and the man who murders in sudden anger.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	choose
释义	† choosen. Forms: Middle English chos, Scottish choss, Middle English–1500s chose, Middle English chooce, 1500s, 1600s choose. Etymology: A variant of choice n. treated as verbal noun < choose n., and assimilated in form to the verb. Perhaps to a certain extent phonetic, oi being in 15–16th cent. Scotch often reduced to o, e.g. rejose, jone; and conversely oi written for ō as rois, clois. Obsolete. 1. The act of choosing, selection. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > [noun] curec1000 custOE chirec1175 choosingc1200 choice1297 walea1352 dilection1388 election1393 elect1398 choose1430 option1549 1430 J. Lydgate tr. Hist. Troy iii. xxii Some will have of chose geseran. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iii. 264 Giff yat yaim war set in chos, To dey or to leyff cowartly. 1548 E. Gest Treat. againste Masse sig. Fiii Ye prophet prophesieth..of the succession, chose, and acceptaunce of a new [sacrifyce]. 1587 R. Holinshed et al. Hist. Scotl. (new ed.) 342/1 in Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) II Of whome could they better take choise, than of a king their neighbor. 1652 Z. Boyd in Munimenta Alme Univ. Glasguensis (1854) I. 309 Referring to the said revisers to mak choose of such of my works. 2. Power, right, or privilege of choosing. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > [noun] > power or right of choosing choicec1374 choosea1400 option1630 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 8550 Mi lauerd..gis þe chose [Gött. choys] o thinges thre. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. lxiii. 85 Let them be at their chose. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xlviii He is an vnhappy man: that god..putteth hym in chose, and he to chose the worst parte. 3. Scope for choice. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > [noun] > scope for choice wonec1290 walea1352 choose1486 choice1584 optionality1817 1486 Bk. St. Albans D iij a Off spare hawke bellis ther is chooce. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2021). choosev. Brit. /tʃuːz/, U.S. /tʃuz/ Inflections: Past tense chose /tʃəʊz/, (past participle) chosen /ˈtʃəʊz(ə)n/; Forms: 1. Present stem. α. Old English ciose, Old English céose, Middle English cése, Middle English cheose, Middle English chese, Middle English chyese, Middle English chiese, Middle English chise, Middle English cheese, Middle English chees, Middle English chess, Middle English schese, Middle English cheyss (Scottish), Middle English–1500s cheise. OE Beowulf 2376 Þæt he..þone cynedom ciosan wolde.OE Genesis 1867 Heht hine wine ceosan.a1131 Anglo-Saxon Chron. ann. 1123 Þæt hi scoldon cesen hem ærcebiscop.a1175 Cott. Hom. 219 Hi habben aȝen chire, to chiesen ȝief [h]y wolden..lufie.c1175 Lamb. Hom. 71 To þin aȝen us ches.a1225 St. Marher. 3 Ich cheose hire to cheuese.a1300 K. Horn 664 Þe fiss þat ihc wolde cheose.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 86 Huer by he conne chyese þet guode.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 93 He..wolde chise..þe gostliche blisse.1340 Ayenb. 626 Þet..chyest al þet him may helpe. ▸ c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Philipp. i. 22 What I schal cheese [a1425 L.V. chese], I knowe not.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 8552 Chese [Gött. Ches, Trin. Cambr. Chees, Fairf. chose] quilk þou will.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 8409 Quam godd will chesse Kyng efter þe for-soth beess.c1420 Pallad. on Husb. i. 84 Land to chees eke must thou yeme.a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail lvi. l. 339 Now Mown ȝe schese.1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 43 To cheys a king.a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 1611 For thow shuld euer chess apone sich wyss.1528 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iv, in Wks. 247/2 Men may..chese and hold y^e right way.1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius Cathechisme or Schort Instr. 142 To doo guid and cheise yam ane right tred of lyf. β. Middle English–1500s chose. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 2462 Þou chose to wone in queþer side, queþer þou choses [so always in this MS.].c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 451 To þe grene chapel þou chose.1528 T. More Dialogue Heresyes i, in Wks. 165/2 We be likely to chose wel ynoughe.1534 Bible (Tyndale rev. Joye) Phil. i. 22 What to chose I wot not [so Cranmer, and Geneva; Rhemish choose; 1611 chuse; Wyclif 1382 cheese, 1388 chese].1535 Bible (Coverdale) Josh. xxiv. D Chose you this daye whom ye wyll serue.c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 12339 Chose you sum cheftane, & charge hym þerwith.a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) ii. f. 46 Ye shall not chose but speake rudelie.a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) i. f. 26 Now chose you, you Italian English men, whether you will be angrie with vs.1582 Bible (Rheims) Heb. xi. 25 Rather chosing to be afflicted [ Wycl. chesynge; 1611 chusing, (mod. edd. and 1881 choosing]. γ. 1500s– choose. 1545 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Luke in Paraphr. New Test. (1548) f. 82^v He cannot choose but reuiue again.1568 Bible (Bishops') Zech. ii. 12 The Lorde..shal choose [ Coverd. chose] Hierusalem yet agayne.1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 253 I cannot choose but muse.1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 646 The World was all before them, where to choose.1800 W. Wordsworth in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads II. 77 Sing another song, or chuse another tree. δ. Middle English–1800s chuse (archaic). The first quot. is of doubtful phonetic significance.c1300 St. Margarete 103 Chus weþer þu wold..to deþe beon ibroȝt Oþer honoury our godes.1340–70 Alisaunder 140 Hee chused too chasen hem þere.c1400 Mandeville's Trav. 221 Who so wille not, may chuse.1642 D. Rogers Naaman Ep. Ded. sig. A2^v How can our lives chuze but be sad.1760 S. Johnson Idler 2 Feb. 33 At Liberty to chuse their Business.1814 W. Scott Waverley I. ix. 121 Would not Mr. Waverley chuse some refreshment after his journey?1832 C. T. Moore Country Houses III. vi. 208 In chusing carriages and jewels. 2. Past tense. a. Strong. (i). 1st and 3rd singular. α. Old English céas, Middle English cheas, Middle English chæs, Middle English chēs, Middle English chees, Middle English chese, Middle English chess. a1000 Ps. (Spelm.) cxviii[i]. 173 Bebodu ðine ic ceas.c1175 Lamb. Hom. 229 Þa aceas he him leorninchnihtes.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 13930 Ne chæs himm nohht te laferrd crist.c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 139 He..ches þere crundel to halle.c1230 Hali Meid. 15 He cheas hire.c1369 G. Chaucer Bk. Duchesse 791 I chees [v.r. ches, chese] loue to my first crafte.c1400 Mandeville's Trav. 1 That lond he chees.a1450 Knt. de la Tour 111 God ches and ordeyned hym. β. Middle English chās, Middle English chaas, Middle English–1500s chase, Middle English chace, 1800s chaise (Scottish). a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20914 Naild on þe rod he was, Als for be he-self it chas [Gött., Fairf. ches].c1410 N. Love tr. Bonaventura Mirror Life Christ (Gibbs MS.) vi Cryst..chaas þat is moste harde to þe fleche.c1440 W. Hylton Scala Perfeccionis (1494) i. lxx He chase hym to his apostle.a1450 Knt. de la Tour xiv. 20 And thus he chace her.c1460 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Laud) l. 9875 A clene stede he chas.1484 W. Caxton tr. Ordre of Chyualry (1926) i. 4 A wyse knyght..chaas to hym an heremytage.1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. xx. sig. Kiij^v Whom God chase..to be kynge. γ. chose. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke vi. 13 Of them he chose twelve [so all 16th c. vv., Wyclif chees].1611 Bible (King James) Acts xv. 40 Paul chose Silas, and departed.1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto I xix. 12 A mortal..Who chose to go where'er he had a mind. (ii). 2nd singular Old English–Middle English cure, Middle English chure, 1800s chosest. a1225 Juliana 60 Þu chure..abráám isahac & iacob. (iii). Plural. α. Old English curon, Middle English curen. So subjunctive.OE Genesis 1803 Him þa wic curon.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 3434 Þe..eorles..curen heom enne king [c1300 Otho chosen]. β. Middle English chose, Middle English chosen, Middle English– chose. 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 400 Roberd Courtehese hii chose to cheuenteyne.a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 543 He chosen hem wiwes.c1330 Arth. & Merl. 7389 Tho schosen thai..A noble knight.1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Gen. vi. 2 Alle the whiche thei chosen [v.r. chesden].1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 30 Of Alemaine princes seven They chose.1611 Bible (King James) Acts vi. 5 They chose Steuen [so all 16th c. vv.].a1790 B. Franklin Autobiogr. (1981) iii. 150 [They] chose me to be Colonel. γ. Middle English chesen, Middle English chese, Middle English ches, Middle English chees, Middle English chess. ▸ a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 283 Þe Romayns chees hym afterwardes.?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 6462 Þe Inglis þerto ches.a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Luke xiv. 7 Thei chesen [v.r. chosen, chesiden] the firste seetis.c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 9627 Þai..Ches hym for cheftain. δ. Middle English–1500s (1800s Scottish) chase. c1440 Generydes 1325 They chase hym kyng.c1470 J. Hardyng Chron. (1812) 31 Thei all accorded by one assent, And chase Philip.1555 W. Waterman tr. J. Boemus Fardle of Facions i. i. 28 That part of Arabia, that he, and his, chase to be theirs. b. Weak Middle English chesid, Middle English chesed, Middle English–1500s cheseden (plural), Middle English–1500s chesiden (plural), Middle English–1500s chesden (plural), Middle English chesit (Scottish), Middle English–1700s chused, 1500s chosed, 1500s–1700s choosed. a1340 R. Rolle Psalter Ps. xxi. 5 Þai chesid baraban þe thefe.1340–70 Alisaunder 140 For þis enchesoun hee chused too chasen hem þere.1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Gen. vi. 2 Which thei chesden [v.r. chosen]. ▸ c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke xiv. 7 Thei chesiden [a1400 N.Y. Publ. Lib. chosen; a1425 L.V. chesen] the firste seetis. ▸ c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Deeds vi. 5 Thei cheesiden [a1400 N.Y. Publ. Lib. chosen; a1425 L.V. chesiden] Stheuene.c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 41 He chesid to be maid þe lowist.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Isa. lxv. B Ye..chosed the thinge that pleased me not.1568 Christis Kirk on Grene in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1928) II. 264 He chesit a flane.1598 G. Chapman tr. Homer Seauen Bks. Iliades iv. 130 Mean space, with all his care he choosed.1624 T. Heywood Γυναικεῖον iii. 143 She..chused one who seemed to excel all the rest.1722 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 688 Which they choosed rather to do.1788 London Mag. 538 As many goats as they chused to take. 3. Past participle. a. Strong. α. Middle English coren, Middle English corn, Middle English koren, Middle English core. (More frequently ycore adj.)a1000 Anglo-Saxon Chron. ann. 656 (end) And Cuðbald wæs coren to abbot.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 8163 Of his ferde coren.1330 Roland & V. (1836) 16 Our kinde lord y-corn.c1330 Amis & Amil. 1431 That was so comly corn.1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 415 Þei ben kindeli coren.1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 407 Comelokur corn þan hur kynde askyþ.c1420 Chron. Vilod. 409 When he was Kyng furst y Kore.c1420 Chron. Vilod. 1079 Willyham Conqueror to þe Kyndam of Englond was core. β. Middle English– chosen, Middle English chosin, Middle English chosyn, Middle English chosun. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 15701 He þeȝȝm..chosenn haffde.1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 62 Any of hem y^t is schosyn.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 10859 He has þe chosin [Vesp. chosen].1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) xix. lxiii. sig. kkvii^v/2 Chosen [a1398 BL Add. chose] mylke..shall haue foure qualytees.1775 S. Johnson Taxation no Tyranny 39 He has chosen, or intended to chuse.1875 W. S. Jevons Money 5 If any one commodity be chosen. γ. Middle English– chose. Occasional in Middle English, but very frequent in 18th cent.a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3379 A stif man & a stern..cheueteyn was chose.a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 48 Poule was not chose be Crist in his lyue.1704 J. Swift Full Acct. Battel between Bks. in Tale of Tub 251 We have rather chose to fill our Hives.1709 J. Strype Ann. Reformation ii. xl. 53 The French King was chose of the Order.1728 R. Morris Ess. Anc. Archit. 90 I have chose this Ionick Example.1819 R. Southey Select. from Lett. (1856) III. 206 Since the armies..have chose to interfere. b. Weaka1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) vi. iii. 139 The banys, walit by and naitly chosit.1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccccxiv. 725 They be chosed men of warre.1606 G. Chapman Monsieur D'Oliue in Plays (1873) I. 211 In that freely choos'd obscuritie.1631 G. Chapman Warres of Pompey & Caesar in Plays (1873) III. 128 Chus'd by him, To be his blacke Guard. Etymology: Old English céos-an , strong verb, belonging to the Old Germanic ablaut-series eu , au —u , u . By reason of internal consonant-mutation (s to z and r ), in Old Germanic and West Germanic, and by Old English palatalization of c , the inflection of this verb presented, in the Old English and early Middle English stages, various phonetic differences, which were subsequently levelled under the influence of analogy; while new phonetic or analogical influences changed the present and past stems in various directions, so that not one of its modern forms is the normal phonetic representative of the corresponding Old English form. The Old Germanic inflection was keus- , kaus —kuzum , kuzano- (with original s changed to z by Verner's Law), Gothic kius- , kaus —kusum , kusans ; in West Germanic with development of z to r , kios- , kaus (Old Saxon and Old High German kôs )—kuri —kurum , koran , whence Old English céosan , céas —cure —curon , coren (with c palatal in céosan , céas , but guttural in cur- , cor- ). Hence regularly in Middle English, cheose (chēse , with close ē ), cheas (chēs , with open ē )— 2nd singular cure ,—plural curen , coren . The first change upon this was the levelling of the consonant differences in the past participle coren , which (though retained as corn , core , in south-western dialect to 15th cent.) was by 1200 assimilated to the general consonantism of the verb as chosen (perhaps through an intermediate choren : compare chure in Forms 3 singular preterite); this was subsequently often reduced to chose , but the full form is the survivor. By assimilation to this the plural preterite curen became chosen , and in due course chose , still used. The prevalent Middle English form of the preterite singular was chēs ; but there was also chās , apparently representing Old English c^eās , for céas . In later Middle English, and especially in northern and north midland dialect, these were also used for the plural; and by similar levelling the plural chose was also used as singular, apparently only after 1500, and is now the standard form. In the present stem, Old English céose , early Middle English chéose , normally gave chēse , cheese , which survived to c1500, and later in Scots But a type chōse appears in the 14th cent. and lasted till c1575 (in More, Coverdale, Ascham); before 1550 the type choose is found. Probably Middle English chōse represented Old English c^eōse , for céose , and regularly passed into choose : compare lose , in later pronunciation /luːz/. The chief difficulty attaches to the type chuse . This was no mere variant spelling of choose , but a much earlier form, which occurs somewhat sporadically in Middle English, but became very frequent in 16th cent. (when it rhymed with amuse , refuse , excuse ). Choose and chuse are used indiscriminately in the Bible of 1611 and the First Folio of Shakespeare: chuse was by far the prevailing form in 17–18th cent., but has in the 19th been gradually superseded by choose , which Dr. Johnson, following Bailey, took as the canonical form in his Dictionary, although in his own practice he appears to have spelt chuse.(All other words in -use, as abuse, accuse, amuse, refuse, ruse, are of French origin; and in some Scots dialects chuse has still the sound of French u. Of Old French choisir, Littré gives Picard forms keusir, Walloon chûzî, Rouchi chusir.) On these various types of the present stem were formed weak types of the past tense, chesed , chosed , choosed , chused , used alongside of the various strong forms already mentioned; none of them are now recognized in standard English, though some exist in the dialects. Perhaps these were in some measure due to a tendency to identify the English verb with the French choisir —a tendency which is distinctly marked in the rise of the by-form choise v., choised, formerly used in English, and still the ordinary word for choose in the south of Scotland. 1. a. transitive. To take by preference out of all that are available; to select; to take as that which one prefers, or in accordance with one's free will and preference. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > choose [verb (transitive)] choosec893 achooseeOE i-cheoseOE curea1225 choise1505 to make choice of1588 pitch1628 to fix on or upon1653 trysta1694 pick1824 to prick for1828 plump1848 to come down1886 plunk1935 c893 tr. Orosius Hist. i. x. §1 Him sædon þæt..hie him woldon oðerra wera ceosan. c1230 Hali Meid. 15 He cheas hire bimong alle wimmen for to beon his moder. 138. Antecrist in R. B. Todd 3 Treat. Wyclif 151 Antecrist cheseþ to hise discyples þe sotil and slyȝe. c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 278 Leuy and hise children..God chase to be preestis. a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. xxvi. sig. Yy7 Choose thee what armes thou likest. 1611 Bible (King James) Num. xvii. 5 The mans rod whom I shall choose, shall blossome. View more context for this quotation 1647 T. May Hist. Parl. iii. iii. 51 Writs of Election..for chusing new Members. 1684 Earl of Roscommon Ess. Translated Verse 7 Chuse an Author as you chuse a Friend. 1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. xii. 251 They chuse for the combat the darkest hour of the night. 1854 C. Kingsley Lett. (1878) I. 431 If each drop of rain chose where it should fall. 1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. ii. 151 She had a right to choose the course which seemed the best to herself. Categories » b. Theology. Of God: ‘To elect for eternal happiness; to predestinate to life’ (Johnson). Cf. chosen adj. c. with complement, as ‘to choose a man king’. ΚΠ a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 10859 Vr lauerd has chosen þe his lemman [Gött. þe chosin to his lemman]. c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 2523 Sir Aufreus thei chosen king. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) i. iii. 65 I would the Colledge of the Cardinalls Would chuse him Pope. View more context for this quotation 1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. i. 74 How could he be chosen arbitratour? 1764 S. Foote Mayor of Garret ii. 40 Have unanimously chosen you mayor. 2. with infinitive object: To determine in favour of a course, to decide in accordance with inclination. to choose rather: to resolve (to do one thing) in preference (to another). ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > choose [verb (transitive)] > choose to do something have1340 choosea1400 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 22087 Criste him seluin chese Be borne in bethlem for ure ese. 1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) i. ii. 12 Chees rather to dye than lenger to lyue. c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 41 He chesid to be maad þe lowist. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection Pref. sig. Ai Some chose to go by the world, & some by religion. 1611 Bible (King James) Heb. xi. 25 Chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sinne for a season. View more context for this quotation 1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. iii. 51 [He] chooses to forego the Pleasure, rather than endure the Pain. 1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits iii. 41 A wise traveller will naturally choose to visit the best of actual nations. 3. The notion of a choice between alternatives is often left quite in the background, and the sense is little more than an emphatic equivalent of, To will, to wish, to exercise one's own pleasure in regard to a matter in which one is a free agent. a. esp. with infinitive. To think fit, to be pleased (to do so and so). not to choose (to do a thing): not to be pleased and therefore to forbear. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > wish or inclination > wish or be disposed or inclined [verb] willeOE listc1200 to be of (also in) (a) minda1325 to will well that1340 likea1375 to find in one's hearta1393 to have a minda1400 pleasec1450 set1470 to have a mind1530 care1560 fadge1592 please1611 choose1622 offer1639 to feel like1808 1622 R. Sanderson Two Serm. Boston i. 4 He chuseth to forbeare those meates. 1768 O. Goldsmith Good Natur'd Man iv. 45 He chuses to remain concealed. 1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer ii. 27 When I travel, I always chuse to regulate my own supper. 1794 E. Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 253 The lot of those who will choose to go to sleep on the edge of Dover cliff. 1801 M. Edgeworth Forester in Moral Tales I. 129 He did not choose to keep a clerk, who was not in his interests. 1849 W. M. Thackeray Pendennis (1850) I. xxvii. 257 Pendennis chose to assume a very gloomy and frowning countenance. 1853 Arab. Nights (Rtldg.) 269 He did not choose to speak to her in public. b. To wish to have, to want. nonstandard. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > [verb (transitive)] willeOE wilnec897 desirec1230 catcha1350 appetec1385 appetitec1385 to wait after ——1393 to set (also have, keep, turn) one's mind onc1450 list1545 exopt1548 to have a mind1553 desiderate1646 lust1653 to have eyes for1657 like1685 want1698 choose1766 to be stuck on1878 1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. ii. 46 The landlady now returned to know if we did not chuse a more genteel apartment. 1788 G. Colman Ways & Means i. i. 2 Do you chuse any refreshment, Sir? 1814 [see δ. forms]. 1871 M. S. De Vere Americanisms 453 A dish offered at table is declined with the words ‘I don't choose any’. †c. To take, accept, or embrace what is offered; not to refuse. (Only in Old English.) ΚΠ OE Beowulf 2376 Þæt he..þone cynedom ciosan wolde. OE Beowulf 2818 Þæt wæs þam gomelan gingæste word..ær he bæl cure. OE Genesis 2444 Hie on þanc curon æðelinges est. 4. a. intransitive or absol. To exercise choice; to make a selection between different things or alternatives. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > exercise choice [verb (intransitive)] choosec1175 walec1400 willc1405 to be one's own carver1578 to take one's choice1588 optate1611 c1175 Cott. Hom. 219 To chiesen ȝief [h]y wolden hare sceappinde lufie, oðer hine ferleten. 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 7885 Muche of þys lond wyllede Roberd Courthese To be Kyng of Engelond, ȝyf hii myȝte chese. c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 184 If God take upon him forto pointe and chese tho places. 1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie i. vii. 59 To choose is to will one thing before another. 1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. vii. 60 Heere doe I choose, and thriue I as I may. View more context for this quotation 1722 D. Defoe Relig. Courtship i. i. 12 Give her leave to chuse to her own liking. 18.. Prescott (O.) They had only to choose between implicit obedience and open rebellion. †b. To exercise one's own pleasure, do as one likes, take one's own way; esp. as an alternative to something suggested and rejected. Obsolete or dialect. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > wish or inclination > be inclined [verb (intransitive)] > do as one wishes pleasec1350 choosec1400 to be at one's choice1569 swinge1613 c1400 Mandeville's Trav. xx. 221 Whoso that wole, may leve me ȝif he wille; and who so wille not, may chuse. 1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. ii. 46 & you will not haue me, choose. 1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 137 Neverout. Miss, shall I help you to a Pigeon?.. Miss. No, Sir; I thank you. Neverout. Why, then you may chuse. 1778 F. Burney Evelina I. xxi. 143 If Miss does not think us fine enough for her, why to be sure she may chuse. 1887 T. Darlington Folk-speech S. Cheshire ‘Ah sall choose tell him’ [I shall tell him or not, as I choose]. 5. a. cannot choose = have no alternative, cannot do otherwise, cannot help. (Also interrogative: see quot. 1592.) Obsolete except as in 5b. ΚΠ a1400 Cov. Myst., Abraham 54 Alas, dere childe, I may not chese, I must nedys my swete sone kylle. 1500 God Speed plough (Skeat) 35 Thus be we shepe shorne, we may not chese. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xviii. 21 Without any rest, but at suche passages as they coulde nat chese. 1592 A. Day 2nd Pt. Eng. Secretorie sig. C3^v, in Eng. Secretorie (rev. ed.) How can it otherwise choose? is not the matter plaine and euident? a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 187 'Tis a good dulnesse, And giue it way: I know thou canst not chuse. View more context for this quotation a1617 S. Hieron Bargaine of Salt in Wks. (1620) II. 499 There are some differences of opinion, as it cannot bee chosen. 1709 G. Berkeley Ess. New Theory of Vision §101. 116 One cannot chuse seeing, what part of the Man is nearest the Earth. b. constr. with but. (archaic) ΚΠ 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. f. xl^v/1 I can nat chuse but to muse, nor I cannat tell what shall fall therof. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 272^v Suche..crueltee..as could not choose afterwarde but redound to his..confusion. 1556 R. Robinson tr. T. More Utopia (ed. 2) sig. Kiiii^v It cannot be chosen, but that they muste. 1557 T. North tr. A. de Guevara Diall Princes (1582) 412 He cannot chose but he must fall downe flat to the grounde. 1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. i. 106 He cannot choose but breake. View more context for this quotation 1619 W. Sclater Expos. 1 Thess. (1630) 295 Canst thou chuse now but say, God is in vs, of a truth? 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxv There cannot choose but be some whose interests are contrary. 1676 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Iliads ii. 240 He could not chuse but laugh. 1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xv. 70 I could not chuse but to forgive her! 1798 S. T. Coleridge Anc. Marinere i, in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 6 The wedding-guest sate on a stone, He cannot chuse but hear. 1837 Morning Post 24 Nov. 6/1 The enlightened leather-sellers, greengrocers, and coalmongers..cannot choose but be edified by the biography of the itinerant agitator. 1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust I. Prol. 15 While Man's desires and aspirations stir, He cannot choose but err. 1886 J. A. Froude Oceana viii When earth is so kind, men cannot choose but be happy. 1919 Pop. Sci. July 34/3 A bottle holder..will keep the bottle aimed directly at the baby's lips... He cannot choose but eat. †6. To ‘pick up’; to take, collect, or gather at pleasure. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > taking > take [verb (transitive)] > take at will or pleasure choosea1300 carve1578 a1300 K. Horn 664 Ihc wene þat ihc schal leose Þe fiss þat ihc wolde cheose. c1320 Cast. Loue 1317 Such strengþe he him þo ches Þat prince of al þe world he wes. 1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Gen. xli. 18 Seuen oxen..the whiche in the pasture of mershe the grene leswis cheseden. †7. To pick out by sight, distinguish, discern, perceive. Obsolete.[An ancient sense; also in Old High German and in French choisir.] ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (transitive)] > succeed in seeing or catch sight of underyetec1000 aspya1250 kenc1275 ofyetec1275 choosea1300 akenc1300 descrivec1300 ofkenc1300 readc1300 espyc1320 descryc1330 spyc1380 discernc1405 discover1553 scan1558 scry1558 decern1559 describe1574 to make out1575 escry1581 interview1587 display1590 to set sight of (in)c1595 sight1602 discreevec1650 glance1656 to catch a glimpse of1679 steal1731 oversee1735 glimpse1779 twig1796 to clap eyes on1838 spot1848 sky1900 the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupy or busy oneself [verb (reflexive)] > devote or apply oneself choosea1300 yield?a1366 givea1400 employ1439 applyc1450 poura1500 intend?1504 delivera1533 addict1534 bequeath1558 bend1591 devotea1616 devow1626 surrendera1732 puzzle1751 a1300 Havelok 2147 Men Mouhte se by þe liht A peni chesen, so was it briht. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 86 Huer~by hi conne chyese: þet guode uram þe kueade. c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 798 Chalk-whyt chymnees þer ches he in-noȝe. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 13509 By the chere of achilles he chese hym onone. †8. a. to choose one's way or to choose one's gate: to take one's way, proceed or go (of one's own accord). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > travel > [verb (intransitive)] nimeOE becomec885 teec888 goeOE i-goc900 lithec900 wendeOE i-farec950 yongc950 to wend one's streetOE fare971 i-wende971 shakeOE winda1000 meteOE wendOE strikec1175 seekc1200 wevec1200 drawa1225 stira1225 glidea1275 kenc1275 movec1275 teemc1275 tightc1275 till1297 chevec1300 strake13.. travelc1300 choosec1320 to choose one's gatea1325 journeyc1330 reachc1330 repairc1330 wisec1330 cairc1340 covera1375 dressa1375 passa1375 tenda1375 puta1382 proceedc1392 doa1400 fanda1400 haunta1400 snya1400 take?a1400 thrilla1400 trace?a1400 trinea1400 fangc1400 to make (also have) resortc1425 to make one's repair (to)c1425 resort1429 ayrec1440 havea1450 speer?c1450 rokec1475 wina1500 hent1508 persevere?1521 pursuec1540 rechec1540 yede1563 bing1567 march1568 to go one's ways1581 groyl1582 yode1587 sally1590 track1590 way1596 frame1609 trickle1629 recur1654 wag1684 fadge1694 haul1802 hike1809 to get around1849 riddle1856 bat1867 biff1923 truck1925 a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2736 Ðo bi-thowte him moyses, And his weige ðeðen ches. c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 146 William..his way to Scotland ches. ?a1400 Morte Arth. 1225 To-warde Castelle Blanke he chesez hym the waye. c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 930 Chaplayneȝ to þe chapeles chosen þe gate. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 490 The Knightes..Intill a chaumber..chosen þere way. †b. Hence simply to choose in same sense. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > travel > [verb (intransitive)] nimeOE becomec885 teec888 goeOE i-goc900 lithec900 wendeOE i-farec950 yongc950 to wend one's streetOE fare971 i-wende971 shakeOE winda1000 meteOE wendOE strikec1175 seekc1200 wevec1200 drawa1225 stira1225 glidea1275 kenc1275 movec1275 teemc1275 tightc1275 till1297 chevec1300 strake13.. travelc1300 choosec1320 to choose one's gatea1325 journeyc1330 reachc1330 repairc1330 wisec1330 cairc1340 covera1375 dressa1375 passa1375 tenda1375 puta1382 proceedc1392 doa1400 fanda1400 haunta1400 snya1400 take?a1400 thrilla1400 trace?a1400 trinea1400 fangc1400 to make (also have) resortc1425 to make one's repair (to)c1425 resort1429 ayrec1440 havea1450 speer?c1450 rokec1475 wina1500 hent1508 persevere?1521 pursuec1540 rechec1540 yede1563 bing1567 march1568 to go one's ways1581 groyl1582 yode1587 sally1590 track1590 way1596 frame1609 trickle1629 recur1654 wag1684 fadge1694 haul1802 hike1809 to get around1849 riddle1856 bat1867 biff1923 truck1925 c1320 Sir Trist. 2642 Into bretein he ches. ?a1400 Morte Arth. 1619 To-wardez Chartris they chese, these cheualrous knyghttez. c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 451 To þe grene chapel þou chose. c1440 Sir Gowther 312 Til the hegh borde he chese. †c. intransitive. To ‘take’ or accede to (a course). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > agreement > consent > [verb (intransitive)] consent?c1225 assent1297 vouchsafe13.. choosec1330 grant1340 to be consentedc1386 to be covined1393 apply1419 condescend1477 agreea1533 acconsent1560 acclaim1620 comply1672 c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 51 If he wille þe lond ȝeld, & to þe pes chese. c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 270 Vnto þat conseil ches þe kyng of Almayn. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 6462 Þe Inglis þerto ches. †9. To resolve upon, agree to have. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > decision > resolve or decide [verb (intransitive)] choosec1320 definec1374 to take advisementa1393 appointc1440 conclude1452 to come to (an) anchor?1473 deliber1485 determine1509 resolvea1528 rest1530 deliberate1550 point1560 decide1572 to set (up) one's rest1572 to set down one's rest1578 to make account1583 to fix the staff1584 to take a party1585 fadge1592 set1638 determinate1639 pitch1666 devise1714 pre-resolve1760 settle1782 to make up one's mind1859 c1320 Sir Trist. 65 A turnament thai ches Wiþ kniȝtes stiþe on stede. †10. reflexive. to choose oneself to: to set or devote oneself to. Obsolete. [The original construction is doubtful; the pronoun may have been governed by following to.] ΚΠ c1394 P. Pl. Crede 684 Falshed of freres haþ..maid hem to leuen Here charite and chastite, & [chesen] hem to lustes. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 144 Moyses þat goddis folk to lede him ches.] a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 13304 Þai þaim to þis lauerd ches, Alle þai forsoke þis worldes ese. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 8270 Achilles, þou cheses þe fast, For to prese me with pyne. 11. to choose out. To pick out, select and take. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > types of choice > choose in specific way [verb (transitive)] > select from a number or for a purpose markOE to choose out1297 out-trya1325 cullc1330 welec1330 try1340 walea1350 coil1399 drawa1400 to mark outa1450 electa1513 sorta1535 prick1536 exempta1538 select1567 sort1597 to gather out1611 single1629 delibate1660 to cut out1667 outlooka1687 draught1714 draft1724 to tell off1727 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 2415 The strengeste me schal bi choys..chese out. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) xcii. 294 He chase out x. thousande of the moost valyauntes men in his company. 1611 Bible (King James) Exod. xvii. 9 Moses said vnto Ioshua, Choose vs out men. View more context for this quotation 1684 R. Waller tr. Ess. Nat. Exper. Acad. del Cimento 35 Chuse out the smoothest and evenest Glass Cane. 1928 P. Dearmer et al. Oxf. Bk. Carols 45 Joseph is chosen out from the other suitors by the budding of his rod. 1945 A. L. Rowse West-Country Stories 192 Sir Thomas Arundell, who chose out and fastened upon this spot. 12. Phrases. to pick and choose: to select with careful scrutiny. †to choose: as a thing to choose; hence adv.: by choice, in preference. Obsolete. not much, not a pin (or the like) to choose between them: no ground of preference or difference. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > types of choice > choice [phrase] > by preference by, for, of (in, with) choice1303 to choose1577 the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > types of choice > choose in specific way [verb (transitive)] > select from a number or for a purpose > carefully picka1393 to choose and pickc1450 to pick and choose (also cull)c1450 to pick out1530 to pick and choose1577 hand-picka1699 the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > types of choice > choice [phrase] > by preference > no ground of preference not much, not a pin (or the like) to choose between them1887 1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. I. ii. vii. sig. M.vij^v/1 They..can..picke and choose out the beste. a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iv. iv. 176 I thinke there is not halfe a kisse to choose Who loues another best. View more context for this quotation 1627 R. Sanderson Ten Serm. 264 But the worthy Magistrate would meet with such a Lyon to choose. a1670 J. Hacket Scrinia Reserata (1693) ii. 222 The Scots, to chuse, prefer a monarchy before any other government. 1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. i. 69 What made thee pick and choose her out? 1740 S. Richardson Pamela II. 136 O then, said Miss Darnford, pray let us hear it, to chuse. 1754 J. Edwards Careful Enq. Freedom of Will ii. iii. 45 Contingence is blind, and does not pick and choose for a particular Sort of Events. 1887 ‘E. Lyall’ Knight-errant II. vi. 146 I can't see that there's a pin to choose between me and the man who murders in sudden anger. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.a1400v.c893
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† choosen.

choosev.