Forms: 4 choys, chois, 5–7 choise, 6–7 choyse, choyce, 6– choice. [Prob. due to association of the native adj. CHIS with the prec. sb.]
1. Worthy of being chosen, select, exquisite, of picked quality, of special excellence.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 727. Him a chalis ful chois wiþ good chere bringen.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 400. William þat choys child in to his chaumber ledde.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 490. The Knightes … Intill a chaumber full choise chosen þere way.
c. 1555. Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (1878), 33. Among the select and choise people of God.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxii. § 8. The one with the choicest wits, the other with the multitude.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., XII. lxxiv. (1612), 303. A Choyser is not here.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., IV. xiii. 302. In discourse her words are rather fit then fine, very choice and yet not chosen.
1738. Pope, Hor. Sat., II. vi. 126. In a sea of folly toss’d, My choicest Hours of Life are lost.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, VI. i. 274. The secretary had … given a choice toast, sung a choice song.
b. Often in the Shaksp. phrase, choice spirit.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., V. iii. 3. Ye choise spirits that admonish me. Ibid. (1601), Jul. C., III. i. 163. The Choice and Master Spirits of this age.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xxxvii. A being perfectly different from the choice spirit of the evening before.
1867. Buckle, Civiliz., III. ii. He quickly rallied round him the choicest spirits in the Church.
2. Selected with care and judgment, well-chosen, fit, appropriate.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. i. 17. A most singular and choise Epithat. Ibid. (1613), Hen. VIII., I. ii. 162. Wishing me to permit … my Chaplaine, a choyce howre To heare from him a matter of some moment.
1669. Bunyan, Holy Citie, 138. Two choice Metaphors.
1693. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., 332. Things delivered in choice words; Electis verbis dictatæ res.
1807. Wordsw., Resol. & Indep., xv. Choice word and measured phrase, above the reach Of ordinary men.
† 3. Of persons: Careful or nice in choosing, selective, discriminative. Obs. or dial.
1616. Pasquil & Kath., IV. 287. I’le make the aire Court thy choice eare with soft delicious sounds.
1651. Jer. Taylor, Holy Living, i. § 1. He that is choice of his time, will also be choice of his company and choice of his actions.
1656. Sanderson, Serm., Ps. xix. 13 (1689), 407. A Traveller in a deep rode will be choice of his way throughout.
b. Careful of (over), as valuing highly; making much of. Chiefly dial.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxix. 103. Many of the latest sailor songs … which they were very choice of.
1875. Sussex Gloss. (E. D. S.), s.v., ‘He aint got but two brockyloes, but he’s middlin’ choice over them, I can tell ye.’
1881. Shropsh. Gloss., ‘They han but that one little lad, and they bin mighty choice and tid on him.’
1888. W. Somerset Wd.-bk., Terrible choice man about his things. Uncommon choice over her daughters.
c. Fastidious (as to diet); ‘nice.’
1888. Berksh. Gloss., Choice or Chice, difficult to suit as regards food.
4. quasi-adv. Exceedingly.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 9303. Achilles was choise fayne, cherit hym the bettur.
