[choose] vb chose ; cho.sen ; choos.ing [ME chosen, fr. OE ceosan; akin to OHG kiosan to choose, L gustare to taste] vt (bef. 12c) 1 a: to select freely and after consideration "~ a career" b: to decide on esp. by vote: elect "chose her as captain"
2. a: to have a preference for "~ one car over another" b: decide "chose to go by train" ~ vi 1: to make a selection
2: to take an alternative--used after cannot and usu. followed by but "when earth is so kind, men cannot ~ but be happy --J. A. Froude" -- choos.er n