Part 223

2. To wish; to desire; to prefer. [Colloq.]

The landlady now returned to know if we did not choose a more genteel apartment. Goldsmith.

To choose sides. See under Side.

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, v. 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. Shak.

Choos"er (?), n. One who chooses; one who has the power or right of choosing; an elector. Burke.

Chop (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chopped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Chopping.] [Cf. LG. & D. kappen, Dan. kappe, Sw. kappa. Cf. Chap to crack.] 1. To cut by striking repeatedly with a sharp instrument; to cut into pieces; to mince; -- often with up.

2. To sever or separate by one more blows of a sharp instrument; to divide; -- usually with off or down.

Chop off your hand, and it to the king. Shak.

3. To seize or devour greedily; -- with up. [Obs.]

Upon the opening of his mouth he drops his breakfast, which the fox presently chopped up. L'estrange.

Chop (?), v. i. 1. To make a quick strike, or repeated strokes, with an ax or other sharp instrument.

2. To do something suddenly with an unexpected motion; to catch or attempt to seize.

Out of greediness to get both, he chops at the shadow, and loses the substance. L'Estrange.

3. To interrupt; -- with in or out.

This fellow interrupted the sermon, even suddenly chopping in. Latimer.

Chop, v. t. [Cf. D. koopen to buy. See Cheapen, v. t., and cf. Chap, v. i., to buy.] 1. To barter or truck.

2. To exchange; substitute one thing for another.

We go on chopping and changing our friends. L'Estrange.

To chop logic, to dispute with an affected use of logical terms; to argue sophistically.

Chop, v. i. 1. To purchase by way of truck.

2. (Naut.) To vary or shift suddenly; as, the wind chops about.

3. To wrangle; to altercate; to bandy words.

Let not the counsel at the bar chop with the judge. Bacon.