suit

suit
{{11}}suit (n.) c.1300, "attendance at court, the company attending," also their livery or uniform, via Anglo-Fr. siwte, from O.Fr. suitte "attendance, act of following," from Gallo-Romance *sequita, fem. of *sequitus, from L. secutus, pp. of sequi "to attend, follow" (see SEQUEL (Cf. sequel)). Meaning "application to a court for justice, lawsuit" is first recorded early 15c. Meaning "set of clothes to be worn together" is attested from early 15c., from notion of the livery or uniform of court attendants (a sense recorded from late 13c.). As a derisive term for "businessman," it dates from 1979. Meaning "set of playing cards bearing the same symbol" is first attested 1520s, also from the notion of livery. Hence, to follow suit (1670s), which is from card playing.
{{12}}suit (v.) "be agreeable or convenient," 1570s, from SUIT (Cf. suit) (n.), probably from the notion of "provide with a set of new clothes."

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • suit — suit …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • Suit — (s[=u]t), n. [OE. suite, F. suite, OF. suite, sieute, fr. suivre to follow, OF. sivre; perhaps influenced by L. secta. See {Sue} to follow, and cf. {Sect}, {Suite}.] 1. The act of following or pursuing, as game; pursuit. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • suit — n [Anglo French siute suite suit request to initiate legal proceedings, literally, pursuit, from siute, feminine past participle of suire to follow, from Old French sivre see sue]: a proceeding to enforce a right or claim; specif: an action… …   Law dictionary

  • suit — [suːt, sjuːt ǁ suːt] noun 1. [countable] LAW a case brought to a court of law by a private person or company, not by the police or government; = LAWSUIT: • Ms. Sobel filed a suit, claiming sex discrimination. 2. [countable] a set of clothes mad …   Financial and business terms

  • suit — [so͞ot] n. [ME sute, a pursuit, action of suing, garb, set of garments, sequence < OFr suite < VL * sequita, fem. pp. of sequere, to follow < L sequi, to follow: see SEQUENT] 1. a) a set of clothes to be worn together; now, esp., a coat… …   English World dictionary

  • suit — 1 *prayer, plea, petition, appeal Analogous words: entreaty, importuning or importunity, imploring, supplication (see corresponding verbs at BEG): asking, requesting or request, soliciting or solicitation (see corresponding verbs at ASK) 2 Suit,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Suit — is a term with various meanings:*A lawsuit, an action brought before a court, as to recover a right or redress a grievance *Suit (clothing), a combination of formal clothing, such as a jacket and matching trousers *Environmental suit, a piece of… …   Wikipedia

  • suit — [n1] matching top and bottom clothing clothing, costume, dress, ensemble, getup*, gray flannel*, habit, livery, outfit, threads*, tuxedo, uniform, wardrobe; concept 451 suit [n2] legal action case, cause, lawsuit, litigation, proceeding,… …   New thesaurus

  • suit up — ˌsuit ˈup [intransitive/transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they suit up he/she/it suits up present participle suiting up past tense …   Useful english dictionary

  • Suit — Suit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Suited}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Suiting}.] 1. To fit; to adapt; to make proper or suitable; as, to suit the action to the word. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To be fitted to; to accord with; to become; to befit. [1913 Webster] Ill… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • suit — SUÍT s.n. 1. Faptul de a (se) sui; urcare, suire, suiş (1). 2. Acţiunea de a transporta un obiect într un loc ridicat; urcat. – v. sui. Trimis de rain drop, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98  Suit ≠ coborât Trimis de siveco, 03.08.2004. Sursa: Antonime… …   Dicționar Român

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