Search for: Choice
4281 Etymology dictionary, p. pick (n.2).2
… , first choice" is by 1772, hence "choicest part or example" (by 1858). Meaning "instrument for picking locks" is by 1890.
4282 Etymology dictionary, p. porter-house (n.).2
… a choice cut of beef between the sirloin and the tenderloin (1841) is said to be from a particular establishment in New York City.
4283 Etymology dictionary, p. pre-election (n.).2
1580s, "choice of one person or thing in preference to others," from pre- + election or else from Medieval Latin praeelectionem .
4284 Etymology dictionary, p. preference (n.).2
… of choice" is from 1852.
4285 Etymology dictionary, p. prerogative (n.).2
… , previous choice or election, privilege."
4286 Etymology dictionary, p. pro-choice (adj.).1
pro-choice (adj.)
4287 Etymology dictionary, p. pro-choice (adj.).2
"favoring a right to abortion," 1975, from pro- + choice (n.).
4288 Etymology dictionary, p. pro-life (adj.).2
"opposed to abortion," attested by 1976, from pro- + life. Used earlier in a more general sense of "enhancing life." Hostile alternative anti-choice is attested by 1978 in Ms. magazine (compare pro-choice ).
4289 Etymology dictionary, p. protest (n.).4
… the choice of candidates or the current system," is by 1905 (in reference to Socialist Party candidates).
4290 Etymology dictionary, p. radar (n.).2
"electronic system for locating and tracking objects at a distance by means of radio waves," 1941, acronym (more or less) from radio detecting and ranging. The U.S. choice, it won out over British radiolocation. Figurative from 1950.
4291 Etymology dictionary, p. refusal (n.).2
… of "choice of refusing or taking," as in right of first refusal, is by 1570s. The earlier noun was simply refuse (late 14c., from Old French refus ), which was common …
4292 Etymology dictionary, p. scientific (adj.).4
… purists' choice for an adjective based on science. Scientic (1540s) and scient ("learned" late 15c.) also have been used. Scientistic (1878), however, is depreciative …
4293 Etymology dictionary, p. select (adj.).3
"Carefully picked," hence "choice, of special excellence" (by 1580s). Related: Selectly; selectness. The noun meaning "a selected person or thing, that which is choice" is recorded from c. 1600.
4294 Etymology dictionary, p. selective (adj.).2
… is choice," 1620s; see select (adj.) + -ive. Related: Selectively; selectivity; selectiveness. Selective service as a military drafting system is from 1917, American …
4295 Etymology dictionary, p. selection (n.).2
… out, choice, selection," noun of action from past-participle stem of seligere "choose out, single out, select; separate, cull" (see select (adj.)).
4296 Etymology dictionary, p. selection (n.).3
… particular choice" is from 1805. The biological sense of "separation of those forms of life which are to survive and reproduce from those which are not" is by …
4297 Etymology dictionary, p. spirit (n.).7
… of choice." It is attested from 1580s in the metaphoric sense of "animation, vitality," and by c. 1600 as "frame of mind with which something is done," also "mettle, vigor …
4298 Etymology dictionary, p. vanilla (n.).3
… common choice of vanilla ice cream; vanilla as figurative of a plain and conventional choice (without reference to sex) seems to date to the late 19c. as a noun …
4299 Etymology dictionary, p. vote (n.).2
… or choice with regard to a proposal, candidate, etc.," from Latin votum "a vow, wish, promise to a god, solemn pledge, dedication," noun use of neuter of votus, past participle …
4300 Etymology dictionary, p. way (n.).2
… spiritual choices, from Proto-Germanic *wega- "course of travel, way" (source also of Old Saxon, Dutch weg, Old Norse vegr, Old Frisian wei, Old High German weg, German …