chose

1 of 2

verb

past tense of choose

transitive verb

1
a
: to select freely and after consideration
choose a career
b
: to decide on especially by vote : elect
chose her as captain
2
a
: to have a preference for
choose one car over another
b
: decide
chose to go by train

intransitive verb

1
: to make a selection
finding it hard to choose
2
: to take an alternative
used after cannot and usually followed by but
when earth is so kind, men cannot choose but be happyJ. A. Froude

chose

2 of 2

noun

: a piece of personal property : thing

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Latin causa cause, reason

First Known Use

Noun

1670, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chose was in 1670

Dictionary Entries Near chose

Cite this Entry

“Chose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chose. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

chose

past of choose

Legal Definition

chose

noun
: a piece of personal property
chose in action
: a right to something (as payment of a debt or damages for injury) that can be recovered in a lawsuit
also : a document (as a check or stock certificate) embodying such a right
chose in possession
: something that is in one's actual possession or can be possessed
Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French, literally, thing, from Old French, from Latin causa legal case, reason, cause

More from Merriam-Webster on chose

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!