▪ I. choice, n.
(tʃɔɪs)
Forms: 3–5 choys, 4 chois, 5–7 choyse, 6–7 choise, choyce, 6– choice.
[ME. chois, choys, a. OF. chois (mod.F. choix), f. chois-ir to choose. Choisir (ONF. coisir) is cognate with Pr. causir, chausir, whence OIt. ciausire, OSp. *cosir (in cosido seen), Pg. *cousir (in cousimento choice):—Romanic *causire ad. Ger. kausjan, in Gothic, to try, test, prove, taste, deriv. of kiusan, pa. tense kaus, to try, test, prove, discern, perceive, see, choose. The Rom. vb. had also in early times the senses ‘perceive, see’, as well as ‘discern, choose’. The Fr. word chois supplanted the OE. cyre, early ME. kire, cure (ü):—WGer. kuri:—OTeut. kuzi-z, f. kuz- weak grade of keus- to choose.
The fact that kire, cure, had in its phonetic development become so completely detached from any current inflexion of choose, while this French word lay phonetically so near, and so naturally suggested relationship to choose, chose, chosen, without doubt led to the displacement of the native by the alien word. The continuous mutual influence of the n. and vb. is evidenced by the fact that there arose also a n. choose and a vb. choise.]
1. a. The act of choosing; preferential determination between things proposed; selection, election.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2415 Þe strengeste we schal bi choys and bi lot al so Chese out. 1393 Gower Conf. I. 273 Of his owne chois. 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. 58 Cosyn he [Octavian] was onto Julius Cesar, and, be choys, his son. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 3 b, Admitted as children by adopcyon or choyse. 1528 More Dial. Heresyes i. Wks. 165/1 What coulde I do further than praye for grace to gyde my choyce. 1640 Quarles Enchirid. ii. xxix, Be very circumspect in the choise of thy company. a 1687 More Antid. Ath. Pref. Gen. (1712) 23 Being put to his choice whether he would yield to that, or the abuse of his body. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. II. xli. 531 The choice of the people is the best and purest title to reign over them. 1872 Ruskin Munera P. Pref. (1880) 15 In the choice of the elements of wealth. 1876 Green Short Hist. viii. §10. 568 With this body too..lay the choice of all future Protectors. |
b. to make choice of: to choose, select. to make a choice: to perform the act of choosing. to take one's choice: perh. orig., to take after selection; but now usually, to choose what one will take or have.
| 1581 Lambarde Eiren. ii. vii. (1588) 214 This law requireth that he..do therwithall make choise. 1611 Bible Acts xv. 7. 1660 Blount Boscobel i. (1680) 50 The Colonel made choise of a thick leafed Oak. 1667 Milton P.L. xi. 101 Take to thee from among the Cherubim Thy choice of flaming Warriours. 1727 De Foe Syst. Magic i. i. (1840) 12 As if Heaven had not already made the best choice for us. 1884 M. E. Braddon Ishmael xxxvi, The dancers could take their choice in the motley crowd of dames and damsels, all masked. 1887 J. Rae in Gd. Words 237 He made the choice then without a back-thought. |
c. by, for, of († in, with) choice: by preference. without choice: without distinction, indiscriminately.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 11014 Twey men were yn choys to take. 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 289 Since..his workes without choice be condemned as Hereticall. 1581 Mulcaster Positions xxxix. (1887) 197 Is the vse of their weapon with choice, for their calling, any blemish vnto them? 1885 Punch 2 May 210 a, Cutting blasts of wind, which seemed to blow from every quarter at once, but from the North and East for choice. 1886 M. E. Braddon Like & Unlike xxxiv, I have ties in Kilrush..otherwise, for choice, I should infinitely prefer Chadford. |
2. a. The power, right, or faculty of choosing; option.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 8550 (Gött.) Mi lauerd has þe sent word bi me To giue þe choys of thinges thre. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iv. clii, This sufficeth..For to destroye our fre choys everydele. 1413 Lydgate Pilgr. Sowle iv. xxiii. (1483) 69 This is nought in thyn choys. 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 206, I must (no choice) away of force like posting horse. 1663 Cowley Ess. v. Garden, Happy art Thou whom God does bless With the full choice of thine own Happiness. 1841 Lane Arab. Nts. I. 82, I have given thee thy choice of the Manner in which thou wilt die. |
b. † to be at one's choice: to act as one chooses, do as one pleases (obs.). at choice: at pleasure. to have one's choice: to have the right or privilege of choosing.
| 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 246 If suche companies will not keepe the peace, let them be at their choise. 1583 T. Stocker Civ. Warres Lowe C. ii. 34 That euery man..maie be at his free choise so to vse them, etc. 1693 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. 332 We may be at our choice; In nostra potestate est; manu est situm. 1810 Lamb Lett. to Manning 2 Jan., I have chosen that [title], if ever I should have my choice. 1817 Colebrooke Algebra Hindus 270 These, with the two coefficients..taking them at choice, furnish the values, etc. 1875 Mrs. Alexander The Wooin' o't xxxiii, I should not hesitate for a moment, had I the choice. |
c. Hobson's choice: the option of taking the one thing offered or nothing; also rhyming slang for ‘voice’; freq. ellipt.
Named from Tobias Hobson, the Cambridge carrier (commemorated by Milton in two Epitaphs), who let out horses, and is said to have compelled customers to take the horse which happened to be next the stable-door, or go without. See Spectator 1712 No. 509.
| 1660 S. Fisher Rusticks Alarm Wks. (1679) 128 If in this Case there be no other (as the Proverb is) then Hobson's choice..which is, chuse whether you will have this or none. 1691 Wood Ath. Oxon. II. 331 The Masters were left to Hobsons choice, to choose Bennet and no body else. a 1708 T. Ward Eng. Ref. (1716) 326 (D.) Where to elect there is but one, 'Tis Hobson's choice, Take that or none. a 1734 North Life Ld. Guildford (1808) I. 163 (D.) They wanted a competition to make the money fly; and they said, Hobson's choice was no choice. 1858 R. S. Surtees Ask Mamma xliii. It was a case of Hobson's choice with them. 1937 in Partridge Dict. Slang 394/2 1960 Observer 17 Jan. 19/1 Her Hobson's (rhyming slang for voice) is one of the most vibrant in the business. 1961 New Statesman 14 July 43/3 The landlady, Queenie Watts, throws her Hobsons (Hobson's choice = voice) so hard that on a clear night you could hear it in Canning Town. |
3. a. That which is specially chosen or to be chosen on account of its excellence, the preferable part of anything, the ‘pick’, ‘flower’, élite.
| 1494 Fabyan vii. 533 The sayde wyne was so plenteuouse in Englonde, that a tunne therof was solde for a marke, & xxs. the choyse. 1611 Bible Gen. xxiii. 6 Heare vs, my Lord..in the choise of our sepulchres bury thy dead. 1622 R. Hawkins Voy. S. Sea (1847) 191 Our enemies [were] thirteene hundred men and boyes..and those of the choice of Peru. 1671 Milton P.R. iii. 313 The flower and choice of many Provinces. 1785 Gibbon Misc. Wks. (1814) II. 375 The choice of a chosen library. 1878 Browning La Saisiaz 20 What I think were..Most the choice for quiet. |
b. concr. A choice or picked company.
| 1595 Shakes. John ii. i. 72 A brauer choyse of dauntlesse spirits..Did neuer flote upon the swelling tide. |
4. a. Abundance and variety to choose from; scope or field for choice.
| [1486 Cf. choose n. 3.] 1586 Cogan Haven Health vi. (1636) 29 As of Wheate, so likewise of Barley there is great choice to bee had. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. i. i. 138 Faith (as you say) there's small choise in rotten apples. 1617 Markham Caval. i. 56 In England where we have so many choyces of good foodes. 1700 Wallis in Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.) I. 314 Here is more choise of tutors to be had. 1833 H. Martineau Loom & Lugger i. v. 80 She had an unusual choice of cambrics and silks. |
b. An abundant and well-chosen supply.
| 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, v. v. 16 So Diuine So full repleate with choice of all delights. 1606–9 Bp. Hall Medit. Cant. iii. (1808) Dedic., I offer them to you, not for that yourself are not stored with choice of better, but as, etc. |
5. a. The person or thing chosen or selected.
| 1598 Shakes. Merry W. iii. iv. 31 Qui. M. Slender would speak a word with you. An. I come to him. This is my Fathers choice. 1697 Dryden Virg. Past. x. 74 For me, the Wilds and Desarts are my Choice. 1792 Swain Hymn, ‘Come ye souls’ iv, His commandments Then become their happy choice. |
b. A person (or thing) to be chosen. rare.
| 1806 Temple of Truth 342 No man..will contend that the pleasures of sense are the best Choice. 1818 Mill Brit. India III. i. 25 Pointed him out as a most eligible choice. |
† 6. Care in choosing, circumspection, judgment, discrimination. with choice (F. avec choix): elegantly. Obs.
| 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. 20 Therefore in my iudgement is there great choise to be made of schoolmaisters. 1625 Bacon Apophthegmes Pref., They were collected with Iudgement, and Choice. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 415 Here he had need All circumspection, and we now no less Choice in our suffrage. 1765 H. Walpole Otranto Pref., Every Italian or Frenchman of any rank piques himself on speaking his own tongue correctly and with choice. |
† 7. Special value, estimation. Obs.
| 1601 Shakes. All's Well iii. vii. 26 This Ring he holds In most rich choice. |
8. An alternative: used both in the exact and the loose senses of that word, i.e. of the terms between which one may choose, or a term which may be chosen.
| 1794 Paley Evid. ii. ix. §3 (1817) 269 Death or conversion was the only choice offered to idolaters. 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. IV. xviii. 146 In dealing with William the Conqueror there were only two choices, unconditional submission and resistance to the last. 1876 Green Short Hist. v. §1. 217 The refusal of the French sovereign..left no choice for him but war. 1886 Athenæum 30 Oct. 565/1 If a man is not orthodox he has no choice but to be rigidly scientific. |
9. attrib. and Comb., as choice-making, choice-picked, choice-worthy; choice-drawn, chosen with special care; † choice-mote, a meeting for election.
| 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iii. Prol. 24 These cull'd and *choyse⁓drawne Caualiers. |
| 1571 Golding Calvin on Ps. xxviii. 104 He thought y{supt} God without any *choycemaking did unadvisedly outrage ageinst men. |
| 1618 Bolton Florus iv. ii. 267 In the first comitial assembly, or *choyse-moote. |
| 1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. ii. 3 A *choice-picked place from al the earth. |
| 1865 J. Grote Treat. Moral Ideas viii. (1876) 103 Ideals..of deedworthy conduct..of *choiceworthy aim. |
▸ of choice: (as a postmodifier) preferred, favoured. In early use, freq. in Med., esp. in drug of choice (see drug n.1).
| 1924 A. Hunter & J. A. Dauphinee in Proc. Royal Soc. (B.) 97 218 In such a case, or whenever the utmost precision is desired, the third is undoubtedly the method of choice. 1967 S. Taylor et al. Short Textbk. Surg. xvi. 223 Constrictive pericarditis... Pericardiectomy is the treatment of choice. 1984 Marketing & Media Decisions Feb. 112/2 Champion driver Rob McFarlin explained why Mustang was his car of choice. 1998 Courier-Jrnl. (Louisville, Kentucky) 24 Jan. (Scene section) 6/1 Redding..had..become (along with James Brown) the soulman of choice for black and white audiences alike. |
▪ II. choice, a.
(tʃɔɪs)
Forms: 4 choys, chois, 5–7 choise, 6–7 choyse, choyce, 6– choice.
[Prob. due to association of the native adj. chis with the prec. n.]
1. a. Worthy of being chosen, select, exquisite, of picked quality, of special excellence.
| 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 727 Him a chalis ful chois wiþ good chere bringen. c 1350 Will. Palerne 400 William þat choys child in to his chaumber ledde. c 1400 Destr. Troy 490 The Knightes..Intill a chaumber full choise chosen þere way. c 1555 Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (1878) 33 Among the select and choise people of God. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxii. §8 The one with the choicest wits, the other with the multitude. 1602 Warner Alb. Eng. xii. lxxiv. (1612) 308 A Choyser is not here. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iv. xiii. 302 In discourse her words are rather fit then fine, very choice and yet not chosen. 1738 Pope Hor. Sat. ii. vi. 126 In a sea of folly toss'd, My choicest Hours of Life are lost. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey vi. i. 274 The secretary had..given a choice toast, sung a choice song. |
b. Often in the Shakesp. phrase, choice spirit.
| 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, v. iii. 3 Ye choise spirits that admonish me. 1601 ― Jul. C. iii. i. 163 The Choice and Master Spirits of this age. 1815 Scott Guy M. xxxvii, A being perfectly different from the choice spirit of the evening before. 1867 Buckle Civilis. III. ii, He quickly rallied round him the choicest spirits in the Church. |
2. Selected with care and judgement, well-chosen, fit, appropriate.
| 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. v. i. 17 A most singular and choise Epithat. 1613 ― Hen. VIII, i. ii. 162 Wishing me to permit..my Chaplaine, a choyce howre To heare from him a matter of some moment. 1669 Bunyan Holy Citie 138 Two choice Metaphors. 1693 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. 332 Things delivered in choice words; Electis verbis dictatæ res. 1807 Wordsw. Resol. & Indep. xv, Choice word and measured phrase, above the reach Of ordinary men. |
† 3. a. Of persons: Careful or nice in choosing, selective, discriminative. Obs. or dial.
| 1616 Pasquil & Kath. iv. 287 I'le make the aire Court thy choice eare with soft delicious sounds. 1651 Jer. Taylor Holy Living i. §1 He that is choice of his time, will also be choice of his company and choice of his actions. 1656 Sanderson Serm. Ps. xix. 13 (1689) 407 A Traveller in a deep rode will be choice of his way throughout. |
b. Careful of (over), as valuing highly; making much of. Chiefly dial.
| 1775 A. Adams in Familiar Lett. (1876) 128, I received..the other articles you sent,..I shall be very choice of them. 1840 R. Dana Bef. Mast. xxix. 103 Many of the latest sailor songs..which they were very choice of. 1875 Sussex Gloss. (E.D.S.) s.v., ‘He aint got but two brockyloes, but he's middlin' choice over them, I can tell ye.’ 1881 Shropsh. Gloss., ‘They han but that one little lad, and they bin mighty choice and tid on him.’ 1888 W. Somerset Wd-bk., Terrible choice man about his things. Uncommon choice over her daughters. |
c. Fastidious (as to diet); ‘nice’.
| 1888 Berksh. Gloss., Choice or Chice, difficult to suit as regards food. |
4. quasi-adv. Exceedingly.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 9303 Achilles was choise fayne, cherit hym the bettur. |