Chapter 268

Choice (?) , n. [OE. chois , OF. chois , F. choix , fr. choisir to choose; of German origin; cf. Goth. kausjan to examine, kiusan to choose, examine, G. kiesen . \'fb46. Cf. Choose .] 1. Act of choosing; the voluntary act of selecting or separating from two or more things that which is preferred; the determination of the mind in preferring one thing to another; election.

2. The power or opportunity of choosing; option.

Choice there is not, unless the thing which we take be so in our power that we might have refused it. Hooker.

3. Care in selecting; judgment or skill in distinguishing what is to be preferred, and in giving a preference; discrimination.

I imagine they [the apothegms of C\'91sar] were collected with judgment and choice . Bacon.

4. A sufficient number to choose among.

Shak.

5. The thing or person chosen; that which is approved and selected in preference to others; selection.

The common wealth is sick of their own choice . Shak.

6. The best part; that which is preferable.

The flower and choice Of many provinces from bound to bound. Milton.

To make a choice of , to choose; to select; to separate and take in preference.

Syn. - See Volition , Option .

Choice <Xpage=251>

Choice , a. [ Compar. Choicer (?) ; superl. Choicest (?) .] 1. Worthly of being chosen or preferred; select; superior; precious; valuable.

My choicest hours of life are lost. Swift.

2. Preserving or using with care, as valuable; frugal; -- used with of ; as, to be choice of time, or of money .

3. Selected with care, and due attention to preference; deliberately chosen.

Choice word measured phrase. Wordsworth.

Syn. - Select; precious; exquisite; uncommon; rare; chary; careful/

Choiceful <Xpage=251>

Choice"ful (?) , a. Making choices; fickle. [Obs.]

His choiceful sense with every change doth fit. Spenser.

Choicely <Xpage=251>

Choice"ly , adv. 1. With care in choosing; with nice regard to preference. "A band of men collected choicely , from each county some."

Shak.

2. In a preferable or excellent manner; excellently; eminently. " Choicely good."

Walton.

Choiceness <Xpage=251>

Choice"ness , n. The quality of being of particular value or worth; nicely; excellence.

Choir <Xpage=251>

Choir (?) , n. [OE. quer , OF. cuer , F. ch\'d2ur , fr. L. chorus a choral dance, chorus, choir, fr. Gr. <?/, orig. dancing place; prob. akin to <?/ inclosure, L. hortus garden, and E. yard . See Chorus .] 1. A band or organized company of singers, especially in church service. [Formerly written also quire .]

2. That part of a church appropriated to the singers.

3. (Arch.) The chancel.

Choir organ (Mus.) , one of the three or five distinct organs included in the full organ, each separable from the rest, but all controlled by one performer; a portion of the full organ, complete in itself, and more practicable for ordinary service and in the accompanying of the vocal choir. -- Choir screen , Choir wall (Arch.) , a screen or low wall separating the choir from the aisles. -- Choir service , the service of singing performed by the choir.

T. Warton.

Choke <Xpage=251>

Choke (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Choked (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Choking .] [OE. cheken , choken ; cf. AS. \'beceocian to suffocate, Icel. koka to gulp, E. chincough , cough .] 1. To render unable to breathe by filling, pressing upon, or squeezing the windpipe; to stifle; to suffocate; to strangle.

With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder. Shak.

2. To obstruct by filling up or clogging any passage; to block up.

Addison.

3. To hinder or check, as growth, expansion, progress, etc.; to stifle.

Oats and darnel choke the rising corn. Dryden.

4. To affect with a sense of strangulation by passion or strong feeling. "I was choked at this word."

Swift.

5. To make a choke, as in a cartridge, or in the bore of the barrel of a shotgun.

To choke off , to stop a person in the execution of a purpose; as, to choke off a speaker by uproar.

Choke <Xpage=251>

Choke , v. i. 1. To have the windpipe stopped; to have a spasm of the throat, caused by stoppage or irritation of the windpipe; to be strangled.

2. To be checked, as if by choking; to stick.

The words choked in his throat. Sir W. Scott.

Choke <Xpage=251>

Choke , n. 1. A stoppage or irritation of the windpipe, producing the feeling of strangulation.

2. (Gun.) (a) The tied end of a cartridge. (b) A constriction in the bore of a shotgun, case of a rocket, etc.

Chokeberry <Xpage=251>

Choke"ber`ry (?) , n. (Bot.) The small apple-shaped or pear-shaped fruit of an American shrub ( Pyrus arbutifolia ) growing in damp thickets; also, the shrub.

Chokecherry <Xpage=251>

Choke"cher`ry (?) , n. (Bot.) The astringent fruit of a species of wild cherry ( Prunus Virginiana ); also, the bush or tree which bears such fruit.

Choke damp <Xpage=251>

Choke" damp` (?) . See Carbonic acid , under Carbonic .

Chokedar <Xpage=251>

Cho`ke*dar" (?) , n. [Hindi chauk\'c6-d\'ber .] A watchman; an officer of customs or police. [India]

Choke-full <Xpage=251>

Choke"-full` (?) , a. Full to the brim; quite full; chock-full.

Choke pear <Xpage=251>

Choke" pear` (?) . 1. A kind of pear that has a rough, astringent taste, and is swallowed with difficulty, or which contracts the mucous membrane of the mouth.

2. A sarcasm by which one is put to silence; anything that can not be answered. [Low]

S. Richardson.

Choker <Xpage=251>

Chok"er (?) , n. 1. One who, or that which, chokes.

2. A stiff wide cravat; a stock. [Slang]

Choke-strap <Xpage=251>

Choke"-strap` (?) , n. (Saddlery) A strap leading from the bellyband to the lower part of the collar, to keep the collar in place.

Choking <Xpage=251>

Chok"ing (?) , a. 1. That chokes; producing the feeling of strangulation.

2. Indistinct in utterance, as the voice of a person affected with strong emotion.

Choky Chokey <Xpage=251>

Chok"y Chok"ey (?) , a. 1. Tending to choke or suffocate, or having power to suffocate.

2. Inclined to choke, as a person affected with strong emotion. "A deep and choky voice."

Aytoun.

The allusion to his mother made Tom feel rather chokey . T. Hughes.

Chol\'91maa <Xpage=251>

Cho*l\'91"ma*a (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ bile + <?/ blood.] (Med.) A disease characterized by severe nervous symptoms, dependent upon the presence of the constituents of the bile in the blood.

Cholagogue <Xpage=251>

Chol"a*gogue (?) , a. [Gr. <?/; <?/ bile + <?/ leading, <?/ to lead: cf. F. cholagogue .] (Med.) Promoting the discharge of bile from the system. -- n. An agent which promotes the discharge of bile from the system.

Cholate <Xpage=251>

Cho"late (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ bile.] (Chem.) A salt of cholic acid; as, sodium cholate .

Cholecystis <Xpage=251>

Chol`e*cys"tis (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ bile + <?/ bladder.] (Anat.) The gall bladder.

Cholecystotomy <Xpage=251>

Chol`e*cys*tot"o*my (?) , n. [ Cholecystis + Gr. <?/ to cut.] (Surg.) The operation of making an opening in the gall bladder, as for the removal of a gallstone.

Choledology <Xpage=251>

Chol`e*dol"o*gy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ bile + -logy . Cf. F. chol\'82dologie .] (Med.) A treatise on the bile and bilary organs.

Dunglison.

&hand; Littr\'82 says that the word chol\'82dologie is absolutely barbarous, there being no Greek word <?/. A proper form would be cholology .

Choleic <Xpage=251>

Cho*le"ic (?) , a. (Physiol. Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, bile; as, choleic acid .

Choler <Xpage=251>

Chol"er (?) , n. [OE. coler , F. col\'8are anger, L. cholera a bilious complaint, fr. Gr. <?/ cholera, fr. <?/, <?/, bile. See Gall , and cf. Cholera .] 1. The bile; -- formerly supposed to be the seat and cause of irascibility. [Obs.]

His [Richard Hooker's] complexion . . . was sanguine, with a mixture of choler ; and yet his motion was slow. I. Warton.

2. Irritation of the passions; anger; wrath.

He is rash and very sudden in choler . Shak.

Cholera <Xpage=251>

Chol"er*a (?) , n. [L., a bilious disease. See Choler .] (Med.) One of several diseases affecting the digestive and intestinal tract and more or less dangerous to life, esp. the one commonly called Asiatic cholera .

Asiatic cholera , a malignant and rapidly fatal disease, originating in Asia and frequently epidemic in the more filthy sections of other lands, to which the germ or specific poison may have been carried. It is characterized by diarrhea, rice-water evacuations, vomiting, cramps, pinched expression, and lividity, rapidly passing into a state of collapse, followed by death, or by a stage of reaction of fever. -- Cholera bacillus . See Comma bacillus . -- Cholera infantum , a dangerous summer disease, of infants, caused by hot weather, bad air, or poor milk, and especially fatal in large cities. -- Cholera morbus , a disease characterized by vomiting and purging, with gripings and cramps, usually caused by imprudence in diet or by gastrointestinal disturbance. -- Chicken cholera . See under Chicken . -- Hog cholera . See under Hog . -- Sporadic cholera , a disease somewhat resembling the Asiatic cholera, but originating where it occurs, and rarely becoming epidemic.

Choleraic <Xpage=251>

Chol`er*a"ic (?) , a. Relating to, or resulting from, or resembling, cholera.

Choleric <Xpage=251>

Chol"er*ic (?) , a. [L. cholericus , Gr. <?/: cf. F. chol\'82rique .] 1. Abounding with, or producing choler, or bile.

Dryden.

2. Easily irritated; irascible; inclined to anger.

3. Angry; indicating anger; excited by anger. " Choleric speech."

Sir W. Raleigh.

Choleric temperament , the bilious temperament.

Cholericly <Xpage=251>

Chol"er*ic*ly , adv. In a choleric manner; angrily.

Choleriform <Xpage=251>

Chol"er*i*form` (?) , a. [ Cholera + -form .] Resembling cholera.

Cholerine <Xpage=251>

Chol"er*ine (?) , n. (Med.) (a) The precursory symptoms of cholera. (b) The first stage of epidemic cholera. (c) A mild form of cholera.

Choleroid <Xpage=251>

Chol"er*oid , a. [ Cholera + -oid .] Choleriform.

Cholesteric <Xpage=251>

Cho`les*ter"ic (?) , a. [Cf. F. cholest\'82rique .] Pertaining to cholesterin, or obtained from it; as, cholesteric acid .

Ure.

Cholesterin <Xpage=251>

Cho*les"ter*in (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ bile + <?/ stiff fat: F. cholest\'82rine . See Stearin .] (Chem.) A white, fatty, crystalline substance, tasteless and odorless, found in animal and plant products and tissue, and especially in nerve tissue, in the bile, and in gallstones.

Choliamb, Choliambic <Xpage=251>

Cho"li*amb (?) , Cho`li*am"bic (?) , n. [L. choliambus , Gr. <?/; <?/ lame + <?/ an iambus.] (Pros.) A verse having an iambus in the fifth place, and a spondee in the sixth or last.

Cholic, Cholinic <Xpage=251>

Chol"ic (?) , Cho*lin"ic (?) , a. [Gr. <?/, from <?/ bile.] (Physiol. Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, the bile.

Cholic acid (Chem.) , a complex organic acid found as a natural constituent of taurocholic and glycocholic acids in the bile, and extracted as a resinous substance, convertible under the influence of ether into white crystals.

Choline <Xpage=251>

Cho"line (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ bile.] (Physiol. Chem.) See Neurine .

Cholochrome <Xpage=251>

Chol"o*chrome (?) , n. [Gr. <?/, <?/, bile + <?/ color.] (Physiol.) See Bilirubin .

Choloph\'91in <Xpage=251>

Chol`o*ph\'91"in (?) , n. [Gr. <?/, <?/, bile + <?/ dusky.] (Physiol.) See Bilirubin .

Choltry <Xpage=251>

Chol"try (?) , n. A Hindoo caravansary.

Chomp <Xpage=251>

Chomp (?) , v. i. To chew loudly and greedily; to champ. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.]

Halliwell.

Chondrification <Xpage=251>

Chon`dri*fi*ca"tion (?) , n. (Physiol.) Formation of, or conversion into, cartilage.

Chondrify <Xpage=251>

Chon"dri*fy (?) , v. t. & i. [Gr. <?/ cartilage + -fy .] To convert, or be converted, into cartilage.

Chondrigen <Xpage=251>

Chon"dri*gen (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ cartilage + -gen .] (Physiol. Chem.) The chemical basis of cartilage, converted by long boiling in water into a gelatinous body called chondrin.

Chondrigenous <Xpage=251>

Chon*drig"e*nous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ cartilage + -genous .] (Physiol.) Affording chondrin.

Chondrin <Xpage=251>

Chon"drin (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ cartilage.] (Physiol. Chem.) A colorless, amorphous, nitrogenous substance, tasteless and odorless, formed from cartilaginous tissue by long-continued action of boiling water. It is similar to gelatin, and is a large ingredient of commercial gelatin.

Chondrite <Xpage=251>

Chon"drite (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ a grain (of wheat or spelt), cartilage.] (Min.) A meteoric stone characterized by the presence of chondrules.

Chondritic <Xpage=251>

Chon*drit"ic (?) , a. (Min.) Granular; pertaining to, or having the granular structure characteristic of, the class of meteorites called chondrites.

Chondritis <Xpage=251>

Chon*dri"tis (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ cartilage + -itis .] (Med.) An inflammation of cartilage.

Chondro- <Xpage=251>

Chon"dro- (?) . [Gr. <?/ a grain (of wheat or spelt), cartilage.] A combining form meaning a grain , granular , granular cartilage , cartilaginous ; as, the chondro cranium, the cartilaginous skull of the lower vertebrates and of embryos .

Chondrodite <Xpage=251>

Chon"dro*dite (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ a grain (of wheat or spelt), cartilage.] (Min.) A fluosilicate of magnesia and iron, yellow to red in color, often occurring in granular form in a crystalline limestone.

Chondroganoidea <Xpage=251>

Chon`dro*ga*noi"de*a (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ cartilage + NL. ganoidei . See Ganoid .] (Zo\'94l.) An order of ganoid fishes, including the sturgeons; -- so called on account of their cartilaginous skeleton.

Chondrogen <Xpage=251>

Chon"dro*gen (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ cartilage + -gen .] (Physiol. Chem.) Same as Chondrigen .

Chondrogenesis <Xpage=251>

Chon`dro*gen"e*sis (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ cartilage + genesis .] (Physiol.) The development of cartilage.

Chondroid <Xpage=251>

Chon"droid (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ cartilage + -oid .] Resembling cartilage.

Chondrology <Xpage=251>

Chon*drol"o*gy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ cartilage + -logy : cf. F. chondrologie .] (Anat.) The science which treats of cartilages.

Dunglison.

Chondroma <Xpage=251>

Chon*dro"ma (?) , n. ; pl. Chondromata (#) . [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ cartilage + -oma .] A cartilaginous tumor or growth.

Chondrometer <Xpage=251>

Chon*drom"e*ter (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ a grain (of wheat or spelt), cartilage + -meter .] A steelyard for weighting grain.

Chondropterygian <Xpage=251>

Chon*drop`ter*yg"i*an (?) , a. [Cf. F. chondropterygien .] Having a cartilaginous skeleton. -- n. One of the Chondropterygii.

Chondropterygii <Xpage=251>

Chon*drop`te*ryg"i*i (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ cartilage + <?/, <?/, wing, fin.] (Zo\'94l.) A group of fishes, characterized by cartilaginous fins and skeleton. It includes both ganoids (sturgeons, etc.) and selachians (sharks), but is now often restricted to the latter. [Written also Chondropterygia .]

Chondrostei <Xpage=251>

Chon*dros"te*i (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ cartilage + <?/ bone.] (Zo\'94l.) An order of fishes, including the sturgeons; -- so named because the skeleton is cartilaginous.

Chondrotomy <Xpage=251>

Chon*drot"o*my (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ + <?/ a cutting.] (Anat.) The dissection of cartilages.

Chondrule <Xpage=251>

Chon"drule (?) , n. [Dim. from Gr. <?/ a grain (of wheat or spelt), cartilage.] (Min.) A peculiar rounded granule of some mineral, usually enstatite or chrysolite, found imdedded more or less aboundantly in the mass of many meteoric stones, which are hence called chondrites .

Choose <Xpage=251>

Choose (?) , v. t. [ imp. Chose (?) ; p. p. Chosen (?) , Chose (Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Choosing .] [OE. chesen , cheosen , AS. ce\'a2san ; akin to OS. kiosan , D. kiezen , G. kiesen , Icel. kj\'d3sa , Goth. kiusan , L. gustare to taste, Gr. <?/, Skr. jush to enjoy. \'fb46. Cf. Choice , 2d Gust .] 1. To make choice of; to select; to take by way of preference from two or more objects offered; to elect; as, to choose the least of two evils .

Choose me for a humble friend. Pope.

2. To wish; to desire; to prefer. [Colloq.]

The landlady now returned to know if we did not choose a more genteel apartment. Goldsmith.

To choose sides . See under Side .

Syn. - To select; prefer; elect; adopt; follow. -- To Choose , Prefer , Elect . To choose is the generic term, and denotes to take or fix upon by an act of the will, especially in accordance with a decision of the judgment. To prefer is to choose or favor one thing as compared with, and more desirable than, another, or more in accordance with one's tastes and feelings. To elect is to choose or select for some office, employment, use, privilege, etc., especially by the concurrent vote or voice of a sufficient number of electors. To choose a profession; to prefer private life to a public one; to elect members of Congress.