Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Choose
Choose
,Verb.
T.
[
imp.
Chose
; p. p.
Chosen
, Chose
(Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n.
Choosing
.] 1.
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 evilsChoose
me for a humble friend. Pope.
2.
To wish; to desire; to prefer.
[Colloq.]
The landlady now returned to know if we did not
choose
a more genteel apartment. Goldsmith.
Syn. - To select; prefer; elect; adopt; follow.
– To
Choose
, Prefer
, Elect
. To choose is the generic term, and denotes to take or fix upon by an act of the will, especially in accordance with a decision of the judgment. To prefer is to choose or favor one thing as compared with, and more desirable than, another, or more in accordance with one’s tastes and feelings. To elect is to choose or select for some office, employment, use, privilege, etc., especially by the concurrent vote or voice of a sufficient number of electors. To choose a profession; to prefer private life to a public one; to elect members of Congress. Choose
,Verb.
I.
1.
To make a selection; to decide.
They had only to
choose
between implicit obedience and open rebellion. Prescott.
2.
To do otherwise.
“Can I choose but smile?” Pope.
Can not choose but
, must necessarily.
Thou
canst not choose but
know who I am. Shakespeare
Webster 1828 Edition
Choose
CHOOSE
, v.t.1.
To pick out; to select; to take by way of preference from two or more things offered; to make choice of.The man the Lord doth choose shall be holy. Num. 16.
2.
To take in preference.Let us choose to us judgment. Job 34.
3.
To prefer; to choose for imitation; to follow.Envy not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. Prov 3.
4.
To elect for eternal happiness; to predestinate to life.Many are called but few chosen. Matt 20.
For his elects sake, whom he hath chosen. Mark 13.
5.
To elect or designate to office or employment by votes or suffrages. In the United States, the people choose representatives by votes, usually by ballot.CHOOSE
, v.i.1.
To prefer; as, I choose to go.2.
To have the power of choice. The phrase, he cannot choose but stay, denotes that he has not the power of choice, whether to stay or not.The verb, in these phrases, is really transitive; the following verb standing as the object, instead of a noun.