fit

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fitt; akin to Old Saxon fittea division of a poem, Old High German fizza skein Date: before 12th century archaic a division of a poem or song II. adjective (fitter; fittest) Etymology: Middle English; akin to Middle English fitten Date: 14th century 1. a. (1) adapted to an end or design ; suitable by nature or by art (2) adapted to the environment so as to be capable of surviving b. acceptable from a particular viewpoint (as of competence or morality) ; proper <

a movie fit for the whole family

> 2. a. put into a suitable state ; made ready <

get the house fit for company

> b. being in such a state as to be or seem ready to do or suffer something <

fair fit to cry I was — Bryan MacMahon

> <

laughing fit to burst

> 3. sound physically and mentally ; healthy • fitly adverb Synonyms: fit, suitable, meet, proper, appropriate, fitting, apt, happy, felicitous mean right with respect to some end, need, use, or circumstance. fit stresses adaptability and sometimes special readiness for use or action <

fit for battle

>. suitable implies an answering to requirements or demands <

clothes suitable for camping

>. meet suggests a just proportioning <

meet payment

>. proper suggests a suitability through essential nature or accordance with custom <

proper acknowledgement

>. appropriate implies eminent or distinctive fitness <

an appropriate gift

>. fitting implies harmony of mood or tone <

a fitting end

>. apt connotes a fitness marked by nicety and discrimination <

apt quotations

>. happy suggests what is effectively or successfully appropriate <

a happy choice of words

>. felicitous suggests an aptness that is opportune, telling, or graceful <

a felicitous phrase

>. III. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fitt strife Date: circa 1541 1. a. a sudden violent attack of a disease (as epilepsy) especially when marked by convulsions or unconsciousness ; paroxysm b. a sudden but transient attack of a physical disturbance 2. a sudden burst or flurry (as of activity) <

cleaned the whole house in a fit of efficiency

> 3. an emotional reaction (as in anger or frustration) <

has a fit when I show up late

> IV. verb (fitted or fit; fitting) Etymology: Middle English fitten to marshal troops, from or akin to Middle Dutch vitten to be suitable Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. a. to be suitable for or to ; harmonize with b. archaic to be seemly or proper for <

it fits us then to be as provident as fear may teach us — Shakespeare

> 2. a. to conform correctly to the shape or size of <

it doesn't fit me anymore

> b. (1) to insert or adjust until correctly in place <

fit the mechanism into the box

> (2) to make or adjust to the right shape and size <

fitting the jacket to the customer

> (3) to measure for determining the specifications of something to be worn by <

fitted him for a new suit

> c. to make a place or room for ; accommodate 3. to be in agreement or accord with <

the theory fits all the facts

> 4. a. to put into a condition of readiness b. to cause to conform to or suit something 5. supply, equip <

fitted the ship with new engines

> — often used with out 6. to adjust (a smooth curve of a specified type) to a given set of points intransitive verb 1. archaic to be seemly, proper, or suitable 2. to conform to a particular shape or size; also to be accommodated <

will we all fit into the car?

> 3. to be in harmony or accord ; belong — often used with in • fitter noun V. noun Date: 1823 the fact, condition, or manner of fitting or being fitted: as a. the way clothing fits the wearer b. the degree of closeness between surfaces in an assembly of parts c. goodness of fit VI. dialect past and past participle of fight