Choose (impf. “chose:” Sonn. 95, 10. Tp. V, 190. Gentl. III, 1, 17 etc. partic. “chosen:” Meas. II, 1, 283. Ado III, 3, 6. Merch. I, 2, 35. As IV, 1, 198 etc. “chose:” Pilgr. 299. LLL I, 1, 170. Cor. II, 3, 163. Cor. II, 3, 163 Caes. II, 1, 314. Oth. I, 1, 17, --and, used adjectively, LLL V, 1, 98).
1) to make choice, to elect; a) absol.: “press never thou to c. anew,” Pilgr. 332. “if we c. by the horns,” LLL IV, 1, 116. Merch. I, 2, 99. II, 1, 16. II, 7, 35. III, 2, 132. H6A V, 5, 50. H6C IV, 1, 61.
b) trans. to make choice of, to select: --ing so strong a prop to support so weak a burden, Ven. Dedic. H6C IV, 1, 61 “when as thine eye hath chose the dame,” Pilgr. 299. Tp. V, 190. Meas. II, 1, 283. Err. IV, 3, 96. Ado V, 1, 136. Ado V, 1, 136 Mids. I, 1, 140. Merch. I, 2, 34. Merch. I, 2, 34 Merch. I, 2, 34 II, 7, 5. II, 9, 11. As IV, 1, 198. Shr. II, 305. Wint. V, 1, 65. R2 II, 1, 29. H6B I, 4, 59. H6C III, 3, 115. IV, 6, 31. H8 II, 2, 2. Troil. II, 2, 67. Cor. II, 3, 163. Cor. II, 3, 163 III, 1, 169. Tit. I, 23. Tit. I, 23 Hml. IV, 5, 106. Oth. I, 1, 17. III, 3, 189. Ant. I, 2, 62. III, 4, 37. Cymb. I, 1, 139. I, 4, 136 etc. “rather what he cannot change than what he --s,” Ant. I, 4, 15 (== what he likes, pleases).
Chosen == select, choice: “a guard of chosen shot,” H6A I, 4, 53. “chosen soldiers,” H6C III, 3, 204. “to rank our chosen truth with such a show,” H6C III, 3, 204. “this chosen infant,” H8 V, 5, 49. “other chosen attractions,” Per. V, 1, 46. Chose, in the same sense: “the word is well culled, chose,” LLL V, 1, 98 (Holofernes' speech). -- Chosen == destined by Providence: “chosen from above, to work exceeding miracles,” H6A V, 4, 39. -- Quite adjectively: “she's the chosen of Signior Hortensio,” Shr. I, 2, 237 (elected bride).
To c. a p. sth.: “to c. me a husband,” Merch. I, 2, 23. “c. himself a wife,” Wint. IV, 4, 418.
Followed by a double accus.: “Langton, chosen archbishop of Canterbury,” John III, 1, 143. “would c. him pope,” H6B I, 3, 65. “Thomas More is chosen Lord chancellor,” H8 III, 2, 393.
Followed by for: “being chosen for the prince's watch,” Ado III, 3, 6. “I chose Camillo for the minister,” Wint. III, 2, 160. “I c. Clarence for protector,” H6C IV, 6, 37. “c. Caesar for their king,” Caes. I, 2, 80.
Followed by as: “whom right and wrong have chose as umpire,” LLL I, 1, 170.
To c. out: “which for their habitation chose out thee,” Sonn. 95, 10. “c. out some secret place,” R2 V, 6, 25. “what a time have you chose out,” Caes. II, 1, 314. -- To c. forth: “which out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth,” H6A I, 2, 101.
I rather c. == I like better: “I rather chose to cross my friend . . . than heap on your head . . .,” Gentl. III, 1, 17. “why I rather c. to have a weight of carrion flesh than to receive . . .,” Merch. IV, 1, 40. “I rather c. to wrong the dead . . . than I will wrong such honourable men,” Caes. III, 2, 130.
I cannot c. (with or without but) == I must necessarily: “she cannot c. but love,” Ven. 79. “that cannot c. but amaze him,” Wiv. V, 3, 18. “thou canst not c. but know,” Tw. II, 5, 188. “she cannot c. but be old,” H4B III, 2, 221. Aufidius will appear well in these wars (i. e. play a brave part): . . “he cannot c.” Cor. IV, 3, 39. cf. Sonn. 64, 13. Tp. I, 2, 186. II, 2, 24. Gentl. IV, 4, 82. Merch. III, 1, 120. Shr. Ind. I, 42. All's I, 1, 158. I, 3, 220. Wint. I, 1, 26. H4A I, 3, 279. III, 1, 148. V, 2, 45. R3 IV, 4, 289. Rom. I, 3, 50. Hml. IV, 5, 68. Lr. I, 4, 18. Cymb. I, 6, 71.
2) To do at one's pleasure“: if you will not have me, c.” Merch. I, 2, 51. “I hope I may c.” Shr. V, 1, 48. “thou wrongest thyself, if thou shouldst strive to c.” All's II, 3, 153. -- I shall not c. == I must: “you shall not c., sir, come!” Wiv. I, 1, 316. “you shall not c. but drink,” Shr. V, 1, 12. “thou shalt not c. but go,” Tw. IV, 1, 61. “he should not c. but give them to his master,” Tit. IV, 3, 74. “he shall not c. but fall,” Hml. IV, 7, 66.
3) to make a difference, to distinguish: “I think there is not half a kiss to c. who loves another best,” Wint. IV, 4, 175 (the shepherd's speech).
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
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