Choose

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Choose, v. t. [OE. chesen, cheosen, AS. ceósan; akin to OS. kiosan, D. kiezen, G. kiesen, Icel. kjōsa, Goth. kiusan, L. gustare to taste, Gr. , Skr. jush to enjoy. √46. Cf. Choice, 2d Gust.].

•  To make choice of; to select; to take by way of preference from two or more objects offered; to elect; as, to choose the least of two evils.  [1913 Webster]

  "Choose me for a humble friend."  [1913 Webster]
•  To wish; to desire; to prefer.  [1913 Webster]

  "The landlady now returned to know if we did not choose a more genteel apartment."  [1913 Webster]

To choose sides. See under Side.

Syn. - To select; prefer; elect; adopt; follow.

Choose, v. i. 

•  To make a selection; to decide.  [1913 Webster]

  "They had only to choose between implicit obedience and open rebellion."  [1913 Webster]
•  To do otherwise.  Pope.  [1913 Webster]

  "Thou canst not choose but know who I am."  [1913 Webster]

Can not choose but, must necessarily.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Choose, v. (past chose; past part. chosen)
1 tr. select out of a greater number.
2 intr. (usu. foll. by between, from) take or select one or another.
3 tr. (usu. foll. by to + infin.) decide, be determined (chose to stay behind).
4 tr. (foll. by complement) select as (was chosen king).
5 tr. Theol. (esp. as chosen adj.) destine to be saved (God's chosen people).

Idiom

cannot choose but archaic must. nothing (or little) to choose between them they are equivalent.

Derivative

chooser n.

Etymology

OE ceosan f. Gmc

THESAURUS

Choose

adopt, aim at, be desirous of, choose to, choosy, co-opt, command, covet, crave, cull, decide, decree, delicate, desiderate, desire, determine, elect, embrace, espouse, fancy, fastidious, favor, finical, finicking, finicky, fussy, have designs on, judge, like, love, lust, lust after, make choice of, mark, nice, opt, opt for, particular, pernickety, persnickety, pick, pick and choose, pick out, please, prefer, resolve, see fit, select, settle on, settle upon, single out, take, take to, think fit, think good, think proper, want, will, wish, wish to goodness, wish very much, would fain do

ROGET THESAURUS

Choose

Choice

VB offers one's choice, set before, hold out the alternative, present the alternative, offer the alternative, put to the vote, use option, use discretion, exercise option, exercise discretion, one's option, adopt, take up, embrace, espouse, choose, elect, opt for, take one's choice, make one's choice, make choice of, fix upon, vote, poll, hold up one's hand, divide, settle, decide, list, make up one's mind, select, pick and choose, pick out, single out, cull, glean, winnow, sift the chaff from the wheat, separate the chaff from the wheat, winnow the chaff from the wheat, pick up, pitch upon, pick one's way, indulge one's fancy, set apart, mark out for, mark, prefer, have rather, have as lief, fancy, be persuaded, take a decided step, take a decisive step, commit oneself to a course, pass the Rubicon, cross the Rubicon, cast in one's lot with, take for better or for worse.