Also 6 choriste. [a. F. choriste, ad. med.L. chorista singer in a choir, f. chorus CHOIR; or f. CHOR-US + -IST.]
† 1. A member of a choir. Obs.
1538. Leland, Itin., I. 15. A Collegiate Paroche Chirch of a 3 Prestes, 2 Clerkes, and 4 Choristes.
1611. Cotgr., Choriste, a Chorist; a singing man in a Queere.
1669. Woodhead, St. Teresa, II. xi. 94. Two Nuns; one a Chorist; the other a Lay-sister.
1744. J. Lewis, Life Bp. Pecock, 7. By the statutes of this college there was to be a master, four fellows, masters of arts, clerks, conducts, chorists, &c.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 354, note.
† b. transf. A feathered chorister. Obs.
1763. Brit. Mag., IV. 325. Now woodland chorists sing.
2. Gr. Antiq. A member of the chorus in the ancient Greek drama.
1762. J. Brown, Poetry & Mus., § 6 (1763), 135. The Poet’s Character became quite distinct from that of Chorist, Actor, or Dancer.
1853. Grote, Greece, XI. II. lxxxiii. 38. He [Dionysius] … sent reciters and chorists, skilful as well as highly trained, to exhibit his own poetical compositions.
3. a. One who sings in a chorus. b. One who joins in the chorus of a song (nonce-use).
1835. Fraser’s Mag., XI. 425. The emotions actuating the chorists in a good drinking-song.
1865. Athenæum, No. 1956. 558/3. The orchestra and the chorists.
