Search for: Choice
4261 Etymology dictionary, p. Hobson's choice (n.).1
Hobson's choice (n.)
4262 Etymology dictionary, p. Hobson's choice (n.).2
… a choice of the horse next in line or none at all. Phrase popularized c. 1660 by Milton, who was at Cambridge from 1625-29.
4263 Etymology dictionary, p. hog (n.).4
… the choice bits. But it is perhaps rather from the allegorical story (recorded in English from 1779) of Muslim sophists, forbidden by their faith from eating …
4264 Etymology dictionary, p. hypostasis (n.).2
… made choice of the word hypostasis, and the Latins of persona; which change proved the occasion of endless disagreement" ["Pantologia, A New Cabinet Cyclopaedia …
4265 Etymology dictionary, p. inelegant (adj.).2
c. 1500, from French inélégant (15c.), from Latin inelegantem (nominative inelegans ) "not elegant, not choice," also "without taste, without judgment," from in- "not" (see in- (1)) + elegans (see elegant ). Related: Inelegantly .
4266 Etymology dictionary, p. liberty (n.).2
… ., "free choice, freedom to do as one chooses," also "freedom from the bondage of sin," from Old French liberte "freedom, liberty, free will" (14c., Modern French liberté …
4267 Etymology dictionary, p. lief (adv.).3
… of choice or preference ( and yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment; "Measure for Measure"). I want and I'd …
4268 Etymology dictionary, p. list (n.4).2
c. 1200, "pleasure, enjoyment;" mid-13c., "desire, wish, will, choice," from list (v.4). Somehow English has lost listy (adj.) "pleasant, willing (to do something); ready, quick" (mid-15c.).
4269 Etymology dictionary, p. lot (n.).4
Meaning "choice resulting from the casting of lots" first attested c. 1200. Meaning "share or portion of life" in any way, "that which is given by fate, God or destiny …
4270 Etymology dictionary, p. luxury (n.).3
… is choice or costly" is from 1630s; that of "sumptuous surroundings" is from 1704; that of "something choice or comfortable beyond life's necessities" is from …
4271 Etymology dictionary, p. Martini (n.).4
… bartender's choice of Italian or French vermouth. An 1887 article about fashionable New York cocktails declares "...now they are coquetting with a subtle …
4272 Etymology dictionary, p. mohair (n.).2
… "selected, choice," from mu-, noun prefix, + khayar "choosing, preferring." The stuff was imported to Europe 14c.-15c. under the name camlet. Later used of imitations …
4273 Etymology dictionary, p. multiple (adj.).3
… . Multiple choice in reference to a question in which the subject selects an answer from several options is attested by 1915. Multiple exposure "repeated …
4274 Etymology dictionary, p. nerve-racking (adj.).2
… better choice as a figure of speech, but the sense of wrack (v.), though less suitable in the image, is not obviously wrong.
4275 Etymology dictionary, p. odd (adj.).3
… , rare, choice"). An odd job "casual, disconnected piece of work" (1728) is so called from notion of "not regular." Odd lot "incomplete or random set" is from 1897. The international …
4276 Etymology dictionary, p. optional (adj.).2
"depending on preference," hence "that may be done or not done according to one's choice," 1765, from option + -al (1).
4277 Etymology dictionary, p. option (n.).2
… optio ) "choice, free choice, liberty to choose," from optare "to desire, pray for, choose," which is of uncertain origin. De Vaan derives it from Proto-Italic *opeje …
4278 Etymology dictionary, p. or (conj.).3
… with "choice between alternative" words that ended thus (such as either, whether ); then it was reduced to oþþr, at first in unstressed positions (commonly thus …
4279 Etymology dictionary, p. ordnance (n.).3
… natural choice, gunners being thoroughly trained in surveying ranges and distances).
4280 Etymology dictionary, p. pansexual (adj.).2
… sexual choice" is attested by 1972. Related: Pansexuality .