Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CHOOSE, v.t. [s as z. pret. chose; pp. chosen, chose. Sax. ceosan; D. kiezen; G. kiesen; Sw. kesa; Ice. kioosa; Fr. choisir; Arm. choasa; Pers. ghozidan. The Hebrew has קשש to collect. See Class Gs, No. 40, 70, 71.]

1. To pick out; to select; to take by way of preference from two or more things offered; to make choice of; as, refuse the evil and choose the good. The man the Lord doth choose shall be holy. – Numb. xvi.
2. To take in preference. Let us choose to us judgment. – Job xxxiv.
3. To prefer; to choose for imitation; to follow. Envy not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. – Prov. iii.
4. To elect for eternal happiness; to predestinate to life. Many are called, but few chosen. – Matth. xx. For his elect's sake, whom he hath chosen. – Mark xiii.
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.