Part 219

Choice (chois), n. [OE. chois, OF. chois, F. choix, fr. choisir to choose; of German origin; cf. Goth. kausjan to examine, kiusan to choose, examine, G. kiesen. √46. Cf. Choose.] 1. Act of choosing; the voluntary act of selecting or separating from two or more things that which is preferred; the determination of the mind in preferring one thing to another; election.

2. The power or opportunity of choosing; option.

Choice there is not, unless the thing which we take be so in our power that we might have refused it. Hooker.

3. Care in selecting; judgment or skill in distinguishing what is to be preferred, and in giving a preference; discrimination.

I imagine they [the apothegms of CŠsar] were collected with judgment and choice. Bacon.

4. A sufficient number to choose among. Shak.

5. The thing or person chosen; that which is approved and selected in preference to others; selection.

The common wealth is sick of their own choice. Shak.

6. The best part; that which is preferable.

The flower and choice Of many provinces from bound to bound. Milton.

To make a choice of, to choose; to select; to separate and take in preference.

Syn. - See Volition, Option.

Choice, a. [Compar. Choicer (?); superl. Choicest (?).] 1. Worthly of being chosen or preferred; select; superior; precious; valuable.

My choicest hours of life are lost. Swift.

2. Preserving or using with care, as valuable; frugal; -- used with of; as, to be choice of time, or of money.

3. Selected with care, and due attention to preference; deliberately chosen.

Choice word measured phrase. Wordsworth.

Syn. - Select; precious; exquisite; uncommon; rare; chary; careful/

Choice"ful (?), a. Making choices; fickle. [Obs.]

His choiceful sense with every change doth fit. Spenser.

Choice"ly, adv. 1. With care in choosing; with nice regard to preference. "A band of men collected choicely, from each county some." Shak.

2. In a preferable or excellent manner; excellently; eminently. "Choicely good." Walton.

Choice"ness, n. The quality of being of particular value or worth; nicely; excellence.

Choir (?), n. [OE. quer, OF. cuer, F. chťur, fr. L. chorus a choral dance, chorus, choir, fr. Gr. &?;, orig. dancing place; prob. akin to &?; inclosure, L. hortus garden, and E. yard. See Chorus.] 1. A band or organized company of singers, especially in church service. [Formerly written also quire.]

2. That part of a church appropriated to the singers.

3. (Arch.) The chancel.

Choir organ (Mus.), one of the three or five distinct organs included in the full organ, each separable from the rest, but all controlled by one performer; a portion of the full organ, complete in itself, and more practicable for ordinary service and in the accompanying of the vocal choir. -- Choir screen, Choir wall (Arch.), a screen or low wall separating the choir from the aisles. -- Choir service, the service of singing performed by the choir. T. Warton.

Choke (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Choked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Choking.] [OE. cheken, choken; cf. AS. āceocian to suffocate, Icel. koka to gulp, E. chincough, cough.] 1. To render unable to breathe by filling, pressing upon, or squeezing the windpipe; to stifle; to suffocate; to strangle.