Choose, v. t. [imp. Chose; p. p. Chosen, Chose (Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Choosing.]
Etymology: [OE. chesen, cheosen, AS. ceósan; akin to OS. kiosan, D. kiezen, G. kiesen, Icel. kjosa, Goth. kiusan, L. gustare to taste, Gr. jush to enjoy. 46. Cf. Choice, 2d Gust.]
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 evils. Choose 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. 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.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
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.
Shades of meaning
Prefer indicates a state of desire and approval; choose, an act of will. Prudence or generosity may lead one to choose what he does not prefer. Select implies a careful consideration of the reasons for preference and choice. Among objects so nearly alike that we have no reason to prefer any one to another we may simply choose the nearest, but we could not be said to select it. Aside from theology, elect is popularly confined to the political sense; as, a free people elect their own rulers. Cull, from the Latin colligere, commonly means to collect, as well as to select. In a garden we cull the choicest flowers.
Prepositions
Choose from or from among the number; choose out of the army; choose between (or betwixt) two; among many; choose for the purpose.