fit
FIT, n. L. peto, impeto, to assult, or to Eng. pet, and primarily to denote a rushing on or attach, or a start. See fit, suitable.
1. The invasion, exacerbation or paroxysm of a disease. We apply the word to the return of an ague, after intermission, as a cold fit. We apply it to the first attack, or to the return of other diseases, as a fit of the gout or stone; and in general, to a disease however continued, as a fit of sickness.
2. A sudden and violent attack of disorder, in which the body is often convulsed, and sometimes senseless; as a fit of apoplexy or epilepsy; hysteric fits.
3. Any short return after intermission; a turn; a period or interval. He moves by fits and starts.
By fits my swelling grief appears.
4. A temporary affection or attack; as a fit of melancholy, or of grief; a fit of pleasure.
5. Disorder; distemperature.
6. Anciently, a song, or part of a song; a strain; a canto.
FIT, a. This is from the root of Eng. pass; pat. In L. competo, whence compatible, signifies properly to meet or to fall on, hence to suit or be fit, from peto. This is probably the same word. The primary sense is to come to, to fall on, hence to meet, to extend to, to be close, to suit. To come or fall, is the primary sense of time or season.
1. Suitable; convenient; meet; becoming.
Is it fit to say to a king, thou art wicked? Job 34.
Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Col. 3.
2. Qualified; as men of valor fit for war.
No man having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke 9.
FIT, v.t.
1. To adapt; to suit; to make suitable.
The carpenter - marketh it out like a line, he fitteth it with planes. Is. 44.
2. To accommodate a person with any thing; as, the tailor fits his customer with a coat. The original phrase is, he fits a coat to his customer. But the phrase implies also furnishing, providing a thing suitable for another.
3. To prepare; to put in order for; to furnish with things proper or necessary; as, to fit a ship for a long voyage. Fit yourself for action or defense.
4. To qualify; to prepare; as, to fit a student for college.
To fit out, to furnish; to equip; to supply with necessaries or means; as, to fit out a privateer.
To fit up, to prepare; to furnish with things suitable; to make proper for the reception or use of any person; as, to fit up a house for a guest.
FIT, v.i.
1. To be proper or becoming.
Nor fits it to prolong the feast.
2. To suit or be suitable; to be adapted. His coat fits very well. But this is an elliptical phrase.
fitful
FITFUL, a. Varied by paroxysms; full of fits.
fitness
FITNESS, n.
1. Suitableness; adaptedness; adaptation; as the fitness of things to their use.
2. Propriety; meetness; justness; reasonableness; as the fitness of measures or laws.
3. Preparation; qualification; as a students fitness for college.
4. Convenience; the state of being fit.
fitted
FITTED, pp. Made suitable; adapted; prepared; qualified.
fitting
FITTING, ppr. Making suitable; adapting; preparing; qualifying; providing with.
fittingly
FITTINGLY, adv. Suitably.