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. √46. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The power or opportunity of choosing; option. [ 1913 Webster ]

Choice there is not, unless the thing which we take be so in our power that we might have refused it. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Care in selecting; judgment or skill in distinguishing what is to be preferred, and in giving a preference; discrimination. [ 1913 Webster ]

I imagine they [ the apothegms of Cæsar ] were collected with judgment and choice. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A sufficient number to choose among. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The thing or person chosen; that which is approved and selected in preference to others; selection. [ 1913 Webster ]

The common wealth is sick of their own choice. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The best part; that which is preferable. [ 1913 Webster ]

The flower and choice
Of many provinces from bound to bound. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

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

Syn. - See Volition, Option. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Choicer superl. Choicest ] 1. Worthly of being chosen or preferred; select; superior; precious; valuable. [ 1913 Webster ]

My choicest hours of life are lost. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Preserving or using with care, as valuable; frugal; -- used with of; as, to be choice of time, or of money. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Selected with care, and due attention to preference; deliberately chosen. [ 1913 Webster ]

Choice word measured phrase. Wordsworth.

Syn. - Select; precious; exquisite; uncommon; rare; chary; careful/ [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Making choices; fickle. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

His choiceful sense with every change doth fit. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. With care in choosing; with nice regard to preference. “A band of men collected choicely, from each county some.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In a preferable or excellent manner; excellently; eminently. “Choicely good.” Walton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being of particular value or worth; nicely; excellence. [ 1913 Webster ]

A choice without an alternative; the thing offered or nothing. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It is said to have had its origin in the name of one Hobson, at Cambridge, England, who let horses, and required every customer to take in his turn the horse which stood next the stable door. [ 1913 Webster ]