Search for: Choice
4221 Etymology dictionary, p. choice (n.).2
… is choice," from choice (adj.) blended with earlier chois (n.) "action of selecting" (c. 1300); "power of choosing" (early 14c.), "the person or thing chosen" (late 14c.), from Old …
4222 Etymology dictionary, p. choice (n.).3
… of choice. Choice replaced Old English cyre "choice, free will," from the same base, probably because the imported word was closer to choose [see note in OED].
4223 Etymology dictionary, p. choose (v.).2
… to choice. Variant spelling chuse is Middle English, very frequent 16c.-18c. The irregular past participle leveled out to chosen by 1200.
4224 Etymology dictionary, p. cooptation (n.).2
… , 1530s, "choice, selection, mutual choice, election to fill a vacancy" on a committee, board, or society, from Latin cooptationem (nominative cooptatio ) "election …
4225 Etymology dictionary, p. cost (n.).4
In phrases such as at all costs there may be an influence or echo of obsolete cost (n.) "manner, way, course of action," from Old English cyst "choice, election, thing chosen." Compare late Old English alre coste "in any way, at all."
4226 Etymology dictionary, p. creation (n.).2
… , appointment, choice," noun of action from past-participle stem of creare "to make, bring forth, produce, beget," from PIE root *ker- (2) "to grow."
4227 Etymology dictionary, p. dainty (adj.).2
… to "choice, excellent" (late 14c.) to "delicately pretty, exhibiting exquisite taste or skill" (c. 1400). Sense of "fastidious, affectedly fine, weak, effeminate" is from …
4228 Etymology dictionary, p. destine (v.).3
Originally in English of the actions of deities, fate, etc.; of human choices or actions, "predetermine, as by divine decree," from early 16c. Related: Destined .
4229 Etymology dictionary, p. diction (n.).2
… the choice of words, is from 1700.
4230 Etymology dictionary, p. dilemma (n.).3
Loosely, "choice between two undesirable alternatives," from 1580s. It should be used only of situations where someone is forced to choose between two alternatives …
4231 Etymology dictionary, p. doubt (v.).5
It replaced Old English tweogan (noun twynung ), from tweon "two," on notion of "of two minds" or the choice between two implied in Latin dubitare. Compare German Zweifel "doubt," from zwei "two."
4232 Etymology dictionary, p. either.3
… unavoidable choice between alternatives (1931) in some cases reflects Danish enten-eller, title of an 1843 book by Kierkegaard.
4233 Etymology dictionary, p. elective (adj.).2
… student's choice, first recorded 1847. As a noun, from 1701.
4234 Etymology dictionary, p. election (n.).2
… elecion "choice, election, selection" (12c.), from Latin electionem (nominative electio ) "a choice, selection," noun of action from past-participle stem of eligere …
4235 Etymology dictionary, p. election (n.).3
In Middle English also "act of choosing" generally, "choice, free choice" (c. 1400). The theological sense of "God's choice of someone" for eternal life is from late 14c. Meaning "act of choosing, choice" is from c. 1400.
4236 Etymology dictionary, p. elector (n.).2
"one who elects or has the right of choice," mid-15c., from Latin elector "chooser, selecter," agent noun from past-participle stem of eligere "to pick out, choose" (see election ).
4237 Etymology dictionary, p. elegant (adj.).2
… elegans ) "choice, fine, tasteful," collateral form of present participle of eligere "select with care, choose" (see election ). Meaning "characterized by refined …
4238 Etymology dictionary, p. elite (n.).2
"a choice or select body, the best part," 1823, from French élite "selection, choice," from Old French eslite (12c.), fem. past participle of elire, elisre "pick out, choose …
4239 Etymology dictionary, p. exquisite (adj.).2
early 15c., "carefully selected," from Latin exquisitus "choice," literally "carefully sought out," from past participle stem of exquirere "search out thoroughly," from ex "out" (see ex- ) + quaerere "to seek" (see query (v.)).
4240 Etymology dictionary, p. favorite (n.).4
… special choice of the people of some state."