| 释义 |
▪ I. suit, n.|s(j)uːt|
Forms: 3–4 sywte, 3–8 sute, 4–6 seute, sewte, suyt, 4–8 suyte, 4–9 suite, 5–6 suete, sewt, (3, 5 sowte, 3–5 soyte, 4 sivte, swete, sywete, sywyte, sout(e, 4–5 swte, suytte, 5 sevte, siewte, sutte, swtte, suytt, 5, 7 suet, 5–6 sut, Sc. soit(e, 5–7 Sc. soyt, 6 sueyt, sewet, -it, sutt, swt, shutte, soote, Sc. soitt, soytt, soyite, 6–7 Sc. suitt, 6–8 shute, 7 suett, seut, shuite, shuett, dial. zuit, illiterate shoot), 5– suit.
[a. AF. siwte (12th c.), siute, sute, seute, suite = OF. sieute, later suitte, etc. (mod.F. suite, see suite):—pop.L. *sequita, ppl. n. f. *sequĕre to follow, sue.
The med.L. equivalent of suit in various senses was secta (see sect n.1, set n.2); the French word was also latinized as seuta, suita.]
I. Feudal Law.
1. a. In full, suit of court: Attendance by a tenant at the court of his lord. b. In full, suit real (suit royal, suit regal), Sc. common suit: Attendance of a person at the sheriff's court or tourn, attendance at the court-leet.
Phr. to do suit, give suit, owe suit.
1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 11154 Hii clupede sir Ion giffard þat siwte ssolde þer to To come oþer he ssolde in þe merci be ido. c1450Godstow Reg. 42 Vpon homage, relefe, warde and sute of courte. Ibid. 152 Makyng sute to the courte of Eton at the wille of the abbesse. c1460Oseney Reg. 10 Soc is sute of your homage in your courte, after the custome of þ⊇ Reame. 1473–4Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 5 A new infeodacione of his landis of Barnagehane..to be haldin of the King in warde and relef and commoune soyt. 1495Act 11 Hen. VII, c. 26 §1 Such inhabitauntes..as owe suyte to the same Tourne. 1502Reg. Privy Seal Scotl. I. 118/2 The calling of smal portionaris and landit men to commune soyite to schiref courtis. 1579[Rastell] Expos. Termes Lawes 175 Suit riall is when men come to the shirifes tourne or leete, to which court al men shal be compelled to come to know the lawes... And it is called rial suit because of their allegeance. 1597Skene De Verb. Sign. s.v. Sok, Hee quha is oblished to giue Soyte in the Court of his Over-lorde. 1607Cowell Interpreter s.v. Sectis non faciendis, Women that for their dower ought not to performe suite of Court. 1618J. Wilkinson Treat. Off. Coroners etc. ii. 77 b, All manner of persons which..owe suit royall to this court Leet. 1651tr. Kitchin's Courts Leet (1657) 291 By Tremail it is said, that suit reall is due by reason of the Body. 1704J. Harris Lex. Techn. I, Suit-real or regal. 1766Blackstone Comm. ii. 54 To follow, or do suit to, the lord in his courts in time of peace. 1863H. Cox Instit. i. viii. 104 The suitors or persons owing suit in the county courts or courts-baron of the King.
c. An instance of this, an attendance at such a court.
14..Customs of Malton in Surtees Misc. (1890) 59 Þ⊇..Burgese schall make bott ij suttes by þ⊇ ȝer' to þ⊇ sayd cowrtt. c1450Godstow Reg. 205 All maner of sutes of her Courtes. c1460Oseney Reg. 37 All maner sutes of Shires and Hundredes. 1508Reg. Privy Seal Scotl. I. 233 Dischargis him and his saidis landis of all soyttis, comperingis in justice-aris. 1543tr. Act 52 Hen. III, c. 9 For doyng suites vnto the courtes of great lordes. 1592in Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. (1892) 91/1 With thrie swtis at thrie heid schireff courtis yeirlie.
†d. to call the suits (Sc.): to call over the names of those who were bound to give suit at a court. Obs.
1459in A. Laing Lindores Abbey (1876) xvi. 158 Ye quhylk day ye soytts callit ye curt affirmyt ye absens ar patent. 1535Stewart Cron. Scot. III. 489 Judgis war sett and suittis callit sone. 1541in Rec. Earld. Orkney (S.H.S.) I. 62 With power..Soittis to mak be callit. c1550Rolland Crt. Venus iii. 11 Sutis was callit ilk ane in thair estait. Cheisit ane assyis. a1578Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. II. 252 The regent causit feild the parliament and call the suittis. 1609Skene Reg. Maj., Crimes ix. xxviii. 168 b, The soytes suld be first called, with their Lords, and maisters.
2. a. suit and service: attendance at court and personal service (see service n. 8) due from a tenant to his lord; hence used as a formula in describing certain forms of tenure. Also homage and suit; in Sc. usage, presence and suit.
[c1350Will. Palerne 1080 To lasse & to more, þat ouȝten him omage or ani seute elles.] c1380Antecrist in Todd Three Treat. Wyclif (1851) 147 Bi sute and servyse þat þei [sc. priests] owen to seynes & to chapitres. a1400Morte Arth. 3139 He wolde..make hyme seruece and suytte for his sere londes. c1449Pecock Repr. iii. iv. 299 He [sc. a priest] muste nedis comaunde and regne upon hise tenauntis, and thei muste needis obeie and do sewtis and seruicis to him. a1500Brome Bk. 157 They may do homage and sewte to my lord. 1504Munim. de Melros (Bann. Club) 601 That thaj aw na presence nor sute in the serref court of Hadingtoune for the said landis. 1605Order Keeping Court Leet 21 Let euery man remember his oath and dutie, and doe his suit and seruices according to the same. 1654Bramhall Just Vind. iv. (1661) 77 All Ecclesiasticall persons who held any possessions from the King in capite, were to do suit and service for the same as other Barons did. 1773T. Percival Ess. (1776) III. 14 Little Bolton, a suburb of Bolton,..extending into the country as far as the inhabitants are subject to suit and service. 1776Dalrymple Ann. Scotland 294 As a freeholder of Annandale, Bruce was bound to give suite and presence in the King's court held at Dumfries. 1820Gifford Compl. Engl. Lawyer 31 For homage, fealty, or suit and service, as also for parliamentary wages, it is said that no distress can be excessive. 1824Scott Redgauntlet ch. xviii, At a table above the rest..sat enthroned the youthful Sovereign himself,..receiving the suit and homage of his subjects. 1872E. W. Robertson Hist. Ess. 138 Every man of lawful age holding lands in capite of the crown..was bound to give suit and presence in Parliament.
b. fig. (Phr. to do, owe, † follow suit and service.)
c1585[R. Browne] Answ. Cartwright 55 Hee shoulde rather loose his righte, then doe suite and homage to a Traytour. 1589Greene Menaphon Wks. (Grosart) VI. 106 For all she hath let you flie like a Hawke that hath lost hir tyre; yet you meane to follow sute and seruice, though you get but a handfull of smoake to the bargaine. 1596Spenser F.Q. vi. vii. 34 Then found he many missing of his crew, Which wont doe suit and seruice to his might. 1598Yong Diana 33 By being fauoured in some other place, where thy sutes & seruices may be more esteemed. 1834De Quincey Autob. Sk. Wks. 1853 I. 52, I, being a cadet of my house, owed suit and service to him who was its head. 1861Sat. Rev. 30 Nov. 553 A metropolitan member must, we suppose, do suit and service for his seat. 1881Manch. Guard. 14 Feb. 5 Like many others who have done suit and service to this city.
3. The resort of tenants to a certain mill to have their corn ground; the obligation of such resort. (Cf. sucken1.) Hist.
c1450Godstow Reg. 138 With þe seute of grindinge, & all oþer pertinences. Ibid. 206 Quiet of scuage & sute of here myllys. 1545in Leadam Sel. Cases Crt. Requests (Selden Soc.) 183 The complaynaunt..hath..prevely withedrawen his sute from the said milles & ground his Corne away from thence. 1591Knaresb. Wills (Surtees) I. 175 Dareley mylne, with the soken and suite there to belonginge. 1622E. Misselden Free Trade 58 That restraint of the common liberty, which we call Suit of Mill. 1768Blackstone Comm. iii. 235 Such is that of doing suit to another's mill. 1903Dowden Chart. Lindores Introd. p. lxxxvi, Suit and multure which the abbot claimed from tenants of the nuns on their lands of Kynhard.
†4. A due paid in lieu of attendance at the court of a lord. (Cf. suit-groat, -silver.) Obs.
1523Fitzherb. Surv. 14 b, I shall..truely do and pay the sutes, customes, rentes, and seruyces that longeth thereto. 1527MS. Acc. St. John's Hosp., Canterb., Paid to Hoth Court for rent sute & loke vs. iiijd. 1577Leigh Surv. G, Suites of Courte, or annuall fine, for suite and seruice of Courte, to any other Courte. Ibid., A Rente, or a Suite, maie bee sometymes paied out of a Mannour to a Hundred or Sheriues Tourne. 1660Act. 12 Chas. II, c. 24 §5 Any Rents certaine Herriots or Suites of Court belonging or incident to any former Tenure.
II. Pursuit; prosecution, legal process.
†5.
a. Pursuit, chase; also, a pursuit. Phr. to follow suit, make suit. fresh suit (see fresh a. 2 c), pursuit made without delay. Obs.
c1325MS. Rawl. B 520 lf. 32 Be imad so uers siute [orig. Stat. Winch. c. 1 Si fresche sute] þer oppe fram toune to toune. c1350Will. Palerne 2392 Lest þe segges wold haue sesed here seute to folwe. Ibid. 2615, & þo þe seute sesed after þe swete bestes. 1390Gower Conf. III. 373 Thou miht noght make suite and chace, Wher that the game is nought pernable. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xviii. xxiv. (Bodl. MS.) Houndes..findeþ here..dennes and warneþ þereof bi sute and bi berkinge. 1486Bk. St. Albans e. v, When he after foode makyth any sute. 1489N. Riding Rec. N.S. (1894) I. 123 To have shot, sute, or course at any of our game. 1534Act 26 Hen. VIII, c. 5 Any outcrie, hute, or fresshe sute of or for any felonye. 1575Gascoigne Kenelworth Wks. 1910 II. 93 Though haste say on, let sute obtaine some stay. 1579Rastell Expos. Termes Lawes 95 b, Freshsuit, is when a man is robbed, and the partye so robbed, followeth the felon immediatlye. 1590Spenser F.Q. iii. xi. 5 He soone resinde His former suit. 1609Skene Reg. Maj., Stat. Dav. II, 40 Gif the suet, or bruit of three baronies follow any man for reif, theift, or any other trespas. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 68 He was spied..stealing a bay horse. Fresh suit was made.
†b. transf. That which is pursued; (in hunting) the scent or (?) quarry. Obs.
1593Lodge Phillis (Hunter. Club) 48 Like hungrie houndes that lately lost their suite. 1644Digby Nat. Bodies xxxvii. §1. 319 Our howndes that follow a suite of bloud.
†6. The pursuit of an object or quest. Obs.
c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 409 Man shulde not fayle in þis suyt for god ne for ony creature. c1450Godstow Reg. 1 [To be excommunicated] al þat ben ordened to enquere þer-on, ȝif þei leue the sute þerof. 1590Spenser F.Q. ii. vii. 10 In der-doing armes, And honours suit. 1596Ibid. v. viii. 3 Suite of his auowed quest.
7. The action of suing in a court of law; legal prosecution; hence, † litigation. Phr. to go to suit, to go to law; at suit, at law, engaged in litigation.
This sense perhaps arises partly from a shortening of suit of court (see quot. a 1400 and cf. sense 1); but it was fully developed in AF., e.g. a nostre sute, par autri sute (Britton).
[a1400Old Usages Winch. in Eng. Gilds (1870) 362 And ȝif myd þan ne may hys tenement riȝt, ne oþer dystresse fynde, by sewte of þe court. Ibid. 363 A ȝer and a day y-fuld of þe furste day of sewte.] 1477Rolls of Parlt. VI. 187/2 That..no Styward..hold plee uppon any Action, atte sute of any persone. 1512Act 4 Hen. VIII, c. 4 Preamble, Outlawries had ageynst theym..at the suyt of dyverse maliciouse persones. a1513Fabyan Chron. vii. (1811) 299 All prysoners that lay in any pryson about London, at the Kynges sute. 1558T. Watson Seven Sacr. xxviii. 178 Grudge, hatred, and sute betwene the parties and theyr frendes. 1583Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 10 If one giue neuer so small occasion to another, sute must straight be commenced. 1590Shakes. Com. Err. iv. iv. 134 Whose suite is he arrested at? a1676Hale Hist. Pleas Crown (1736) II. 280 Tho A. be convict at the king's suit. 1688Holme Armoury iii. xix. (Roxb.) 173/2 If..the parties were at suite in the ciuill courts of justice. 1690W. Walker Idiomat. Anglo-Lat. 455, I haue a great mind to go to suit. 1766Blackstone Comm. ii. 437 Till after suit commenced and judgment obtained in a court of law. 1768Ibid. iii. 22 The redress of injuries by suit in courts. 1817Jas. Mill Brit. India v. ii. II. 379 At the suit of a native, he was taken up on a charge of forgery.
†8. The prosecution of a cause; also, the suing for a writ. suit of the king's peace: see quot. 1607. Obs.
1444Rolls of Parlt. V. 110/1 Without any sute of Writte of errour. 1472Cov. Leet Bk. 376 What demene shuld be taken ffor the mater betwen the Cite and Will. Briscowe, And for the Costes and expenses of the suyt þerof. 1538Starkey England 191 The longe sute of causys in the Court at Westmonastere. 1544in Leadam Sel. Cases Crt. Requests (Selden Soc.) 96 Duryng the suete of ther case. 1563Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 251 Compellit to leif the soit of thair saidis caussis. 1607Cowell Interpr., Suyte of the Kings peace is the persiewing of a man for breach of the K. peace, by treasons, insurrections, rebellions, or trespasses.
†9. in suit.
a. Engaged in a legal prosecution or lawsuit. Obs.
a1513Fabyan Chron. vii. (1811) 339 Atwene the Londoners and the abbot of the Holy Crosse of Waltham, the whiche hadde bene in suyte many yerys before. 1581in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 225, I am in such great suits with the Lord Crumwell for that little living which my father left me. 1598R. Bernard tr. Terence, Andria iv. v, He is alwaies in sute with some man. He is neuer out of the court. a1677Barrow Serm. Wks. 1687 I. 75 He that doth not wave the prosecution of his cause..is deemed still to be in suit. 1688Holme Armoury iii. xv. (Roxb.) 23/2 A docket, the catalogue of the person[s] in suite one with another.
†b. Of a person: Being prosecuted. to have, put in suit, to prosecute, take legal action against. Obs.
1544in Leadam Sel. Cases Crt. Requests (Selden Soc.) 79 For the which Olyuer Seynt John Esquyer hayth Stokeley in sewt at this present tyme. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 1 The kynges grace..pardoned all suche persones, as was then in suite. 1579Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 223/1 We shall not..want an aduersarie to accuse us, we shall lacke no Eschequer man to put us in shute. 1638Heywood Wise Wom. iii. i, If they put mee in suite,..they are poore, and cannot follow it.
†c. Of a matter: That is sub judice or in dispute. Obs.
1538Starkey England (1878) 118, I see many mennys materys heng in sute ii, iij, or iiij yere and more. 1559J. Aylmer Harborowe G j b, To put that out of doubte which was in sute. 1664Comenius' Janua Ling. 656 A third man must needs come in (between) to part the fray (to take up the matter in sute).
†d. to put in suit(s): to put (an instrument) in force in a court of law; also, to set the law in motion concerning (a matter).
c1618in Elsing's Debates Ho. Lords (Camden) App. 140 The said Sr Giles putt the said bonds in suite in the Exchequer. a1680Charnock Attrib. God (1834) II. 684 Who hath laid by his bond so many years, without putting it in suits against us. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 140, I will have that matter put directly in suit, and, as soon as it is recovered, it shall be laid out on a commission for your son. 1845Stephen Comm. Laws Eng. (1874) II. 48 The executor..of the donor..bound to put such instrument in suit, for the benefit of the donee.
10. a. A process instituted in a court of justice for the recovery or protection of a right, the enforcement of a claim, or the redress of a wrong; a prosecution before a legal tribunal.
‘Suit’ is a term of wider signification than action; it may include proceedings on a petition. (Encycl. Laws Eng.)
c1412Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 1521 Whan þe mater is to ende I-broght Of þe straunger, for whom þe suyte haþ be. 1444Rolls of Parlt. V. 109/2 Many dyvers persones bi singuler veniance and nothing of right..been by dyvers Suets sued. 1562Child-Marriages 71 She comensid a sute, and sekid for a divorce to be had bie the lawe betwixe them. 1611Cotgr. s.v. Guerre, Qui a terre, si, a guerre: Prov., He that hath soyle hath suits. 1676–7Marvell Corr. Wks. (Grosart) II. 530 The Bill against the Multiplicity of Atturnyes, and for preventing vexatious Suits. 1768Blackstone Comm. iii. 406 The courts..will allow of amendments at any time while the suit is depending. 1844H. H. Wilson Brit. India II. 517 To hear and determine summary suits for the rent and occupancy of land. 1888Bryce Amer. Commw. xliv. II. 154 Ordinary private law..upon which nine-tenths of the suits between man and man are founded.
b. More fully, suit in law († suit of or † at law, † suit at the law) = lawsuit. Similarly suit in chancery, equity.
1530Palsgr. 278/2 Sute at the lawe or court, sieute. 1576Fleming Panopl. Epist. 252 Busily occupied in matters of suites of lawe. c1610Women Saints 182 This woman had a suite in law against a principall man of the Cittie of Cæsarea. 1726Mist's Weekly Jrnl. 3 Sept. in N. & Q. (1905) 10th Ser. IV. 95/2 On Monday is to be determined a Suit of Law. 1728Law Serious C. iii. (1732) 40 These at Suits at Law, those at Gaming Tables. 1817Selwyn Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4) II. 1089 A suit in chancery. 1844Williams Real Prop. (1877) 93 Actions at law and suits in equity.
†c. to follow a suit: to prosecute a legal action. Also fig. Obs.
1577tr. Bullinger's Decades 705/2 That hee [Jesus] should alwaies appeare there in the presence of God, to followe all our suites faithfully. 1598R. Bernard tr. Terence, Andria iv. v, For me a stranger to go follow sutes & brabbles in law. a1624M. Smith Serm. (1632) 68 The Law containeth matter of inditement against vs, the Deuill followeth the suite. 1631Rep. Cases Star Chamb. & High Comm. (Camden) 187 That they would graunt her alimonie and charges to follow the suit against him.
11. a. The action or an act of suing, supplicating, or petitioning; (a) petition, supplication, or entreaty; esp. a petition made to a prince or other high personage. Now poet.
1449Rolls of Parlt. V. 148/2 Savyng alwey to the same Erle of Devonshire, his lawfull suete to the Kyng. c1460Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. xi. (1885) 136 To some men he hath done in lyke wyse aboff thair merites, through ymportunite off thair suyttes. 1491Act 7 Hen. VII, c. 24 An acte was made at the sute of a particuler personne for his particuler cause. 1549–62Sternhold & H. Ps., Lam. (1566) 23 For mercy Lord is all my sute. 1554Act 1 & 2 Phil. & M. c. 8 §1 This our supplicacion directed to yor Majesties withe most humble sute, that it may..be exhibited to..the Lorde Cardinall Poole. 1592Kyd Sp. Trag. iii. xii. 2 The King sees me, and faine would heare my sute. 1605Shakes. Lear ii. ii. 68 This ancient Ruffian..whose life I haue spar'd at sute of his gray-beard. 1625Bacon Ess., Sutours (Arb.) 41 Priuate Sutes doe Putrifie the Publique Good. 1657Sparrow Rationale 76 When the Priest makes their suits, and they..say, Amen. 1668R. Steele Husbandm. Calling v. (1672) 90 Frozen suits meet with cold answers from God. 1741Middleton Cicero (1742) II. vi. 151 When Milo offered to drop his suit for the Consulship. 1814Scott Ld. of Isles i. xxx, Rest ye here..Till to our Lord your suit is said. 1838Arnold Hist. Rome I. 78 They had no jurisdiction, but referred all their suits to the king. 1859Tennyson Elaine 774 Lightly, her suit allow'd, she slipt away.
†b. to make (one's) suit: to supplicate, petition; to sue to a person for a thing; also const. inf., to petition for something to be done. Obs.
c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 34 Now no man to me makethe ony sute! c1513More Rich. III Wks. 53/1 While some for their busines made sute to them that had the doing. Ibid. 58/2 This pore Lady made humble sute vnto y⊇ king, yt she might be restored vnto such smal landes as [etc.]. 1530Palsgr. 716/2, I sewe, I make sute for a thing, je pourchasse. 1556Cheke in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 19 To favor such poore suts for my Libertie as Mr Dean shall make to your Mati⊇ in my behalfe. 1601[Bp. W. Barlow] Serm. Paules Crosse 2 As I neuer made sute to preach anywhere. 1649Davenant Love & Hon. v. iii. 70 My desires make sute, that those who shall Hereafter write the businesse of this day May not beleeve I suffer for the hope Of glorious fame. 1738Wesley Ps. xlv. xvi, Kings at his Feet shall cast their crown, And humble Suit for Mercy make.
†c. transf. Earnest search for or endeavour to obtain something. Obs.
a1568R. Ascham Scholem. i. (Arb.) 77 They make great hast to cum to her: they make great sute to serue her. 1613Purchas Pilgrimage vii. i. 552 Corrivall vnto..Sennacherib, in sute for the Monarchie of the world. a1627Sir J. Beaumont in Farr S.P. Jas. I (1848) 155 The fiends..Make sute to seaze him as their lawfull prey.
12. Wooing or courting of a woman; solicitation for a woman's hand. Also, an instance of this, a courtship.
[1580Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 342 When the Gods coulde not obtaine their desires by suite, they turned them-selues into newe shapes.] 1590Greene Never too late (1600) P, Reueale any more his sute hee durst not, because when he began to chat of loue, she shakt him off. c1610Women Saints 73 Offa receyuing that message, did moste willinglie giue ouer his suite, ceasing to molest the virgin. a1711Burnet Autobiog. in H. C. Foxcroft Suppl. Burnet's Hist. (1902) 480 After two years sute we were married. 1726Pope Odyss. xix. 164 Rebate your loves, each rival suit suspend. 1775Sheridan Duenna ii. iii, Doubtless, that agreeable figure of his must have help'd his suit surprizingly. 1823Scott Peveril xii, If I come to you with my parents' consent to my suit, will you again say..Julian, we must part? 1864Tennyson Aylmer's F. 493 Sullen, defiant, pitying, wroth, return'd Leolin's rejected rivals from their suit.
III. Livery, garb; sort, class.
†13.
a. A livery or uniform; also, in wider use, a dress, garb: chiefly in phr. in or of (a) suit = clothed in the same garb or colour, as the members of a retinue or fraternity; also, in suit with, in the same dress or uniform as. Obs.
1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 3950 A þousend kniȝtes..Of noble men ycloþed in ermine echon Of o sywte. 13..K. Alis. 182 (Laud MS.) Forþ she ferde, myd her route, A þousande lefdyes of riche soute. 1389in Eng. Gilds (1870) 3 Þe brethren and sustren..shul be cloþed in suyt. 1390Gower Conf. II. 2 That I mai stonde upon his rowe, As I that am clad of his suite. 14..in Eng. Gilds (1870) 446 Alle the bretheren schul be cladde in swte of gownes o ȝere and another ȝere in o swte of hodes. c1450Godstow Reg. 23 Edmunde of Pounteney, now in ȝoure sute I wold þat I were..Wheþer hit were..whyte, rede, or blewe. c1460Wisdom in Macro Plays 60 Here entreth vi women, in sut. c1470Henry Wallace ix. 293 He gert graith him in soit with his awin men. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. IV (1550) 22 b, Three other appareled in the kynges suite and clothyng. 1588Lambarde Eiren. iv. iv. 439 If any company of men..haue made any one generall sute of cloth..to be knowen by. a1633Austin Medit. (1635) 104 These Sisters goe all in a Suite..: They are all in Greene.
†b. in suit or of suit (of a or the same suit): (of clothes, etc.) of one or the same colour or material; uniform, to match. in suit of or with: uniform with, matching. Obs.
13..E.E. Allit. P. A 203 Her cortel of self sute schene. Ibid. 1108 Alle in sute her liurez wasse. 13..Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 191 Þe tayl & his toppyng twynnen of a sute. c1386Chaucer Miller's T. 56 The tapes of hir white voluper Were of the same suyte of hir coler. 1389in Eng. Gilds (1870) 43 Alle ye bretheren and systeren han a lyuere of sute. 1395E.E. Wills (1882) 5 With docere, costers and bankers, of sute of that forseyde bed. 1431Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1904) 26 A white vestement of o sewte. 1433Rolls of Parlt. IV. 477/1 And the Styward..have..a Robe in sute of the Baylyffs. 1452in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) I. 337 A gownecloth in sute with his gentilmen. 1558in Feuillerat Revels Q. Eliz. (1908) 45, vi payer of undersleves of the same stuff and sute.
†c. fig. (in quot. 1377 said of the human flesh or humanity). Phr. to follow suit with, to do the same as (cf. 20 b). Obs.
1377Langl. P. Pl. B. v. 495 God..þat..in owre sute deydest On godefryday for mannes sake. 1565T. Stapleton Fortr. Faith 92 Any protestant of what so euer cote or sute he be. 1655Fuller Church Hist. ii. 152 Though men had Surnames, yet their Sons did not, as I may say, follow suit with their Fathers. a1661― Worthies, Lond. (1662) ii. 205 Many Clergy-men,..born in this City, did not follow suit with others of their Coat.
†d. in suit with: in company with. out of suits with: ? lit. not in the uniform of, hence, out of favour with. Obs.
a1400Morte Arth. 3931 Seuene score knyghtes In soyte with theire souerayne. 1600Shakes. A.Y.L. i. ii. 258 One out of suites with fortune.
†e. Condition, state. Obs. rare.
1350Will. Palerne 1250 Þou seidest me ȝer-while þou schuldest me do quelle,..but, sire, in þe same seute sett artow nouȝ.
14. Of various objects (chiefly in phr. with preps. of, in): Pattern, style of workmanship or design; occas. colour; hence = set (see V).
a1400Morte Arth. 210 Sexty cowpes of suyte. c1400Destr. Troy 3410 A sadill..With a bridell full bright, bothe of a sewte. 1406E.E. Wills (1882) 13 Ylk man & woman of hem in sute a rynge of xl d. a1423in Archaeologia LXI. 171, ij Fiols of on sute of siluer and gild. 1424–5E.E. Wills (1882) 56 A doseyn spones of too suites. 1444Test. Ebor. (Surtees) II. 112, ij standing cuppis of a sute. 1525Ibid. VI. 11, iiij stottes, iij of on sutie [? suite], with on browne stotte.
†15. Kind, sort, class. Obs.
Common in the 16th c.
1548Geste Agst. Priv. Masse A v, It is a stelth of holye thinges, not of the basest sute..but of the holyest and chiefeste kynde. 1570Levins Manip. 178/28 A Soote, of things, genus. 1573Tusser Husb. (1878) 46 Now gather vp fruite, of euerie suite. 1586T. Bright Treat. Mel. iv. 13 The particular nourishment containeth not so many sutes, as the earth the nourisher of all things doth. 1594Hooker Eccl. Pol. iii. iii. §2 Touching matters belonging vnto the Church of Christ this wee conceiue, that they are not of one sute. 1642D. Rogers Naaman 138 Of this sute also is the carriage of such, as upbraid God.
IV. Following, train, suite.
16. a. A company of followers; a train, retinue, suite. Also, a company of disciples. Now arch. or dial. (superseded by suite).
1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 3743 Hii of sute were Of king arthures hous. 13..Cursor M. 25668 (Gött.) Leuedi mari!..helpe þi suite. c1380Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 225 Crist biddiþ men of his suyt þat þei shulden not have two cootis. c1400Destr. Troy 546 In sound for to saile home & your sute all. Ibid. 12995 The Cite he assailet with a sewte ofte. a1586Sidney Arcadia ii. x. (1912) 211 Had there not come in Tydeus & Telenor, with fortie or fiftie in their suit, to the defence of Plexirtus. 1612T. Taylor Comm. Titus i. 6 They were so farre from the suit of Saints and good men, that they were vnfit companie for honest ciuill men. 1781J. Moore View Soc. It. (1790) I. i. 17 Till the Archduke and his suit had passed. 1799Coleridge Let. to Wife 14 Jan., Any but married women, or in the suit of married women. 1862G. J. Whyte-Melville Inside Bar! 345 Servant?..didn't bring one; don't want a ‘shoot’ when I'm driving Crafty Kate. 1865Baring-Gould Werewolves x. 185 A numerous suit of pages, esquires, chaplains.
†b. (a) A leash of hounds. (b) A flight of mallards. Obs.
c1470Hors, Shepe & G. (Roxb.) ad fin., A Sute of a lyhm. 1486Bk. St. Albans. f vi, A Sorde or a sute of malardis.
c. The witnesses or followers of a plaintiff in an action at law. Now Hist.
1647N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. lxvii, The plaintiffs sect or suit of witnesses. 1768Blackstone Comm. iii. 295. 1865 Nichols tr. Britton i. xxxii, Let the suit be examined..by taking their acknowledgments whether they are villains to the plaintiff. Ibid. v. viii. 270 marg., Proof by suit of witnesses.
†17. Offspring, progeny; spec. the offspring of a villein. Obs.
1338R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 95 Of þat douhter sute com Malde, þat was of pris. c1450Godstow Reg. 559 The bodies of [5 serfs], with all ther catell, sewtis, and sequelis. c1460Oseney Reg. 10 Your bonde men, with here sute and catell.
V. Set, series.
18. A number of objects of the same kind or pattern intended to be used together or forming a definite set or series.
† a. A group. b. A set of tools, plate, furniture, locks, etc. c. The whole of the sails required for a ship or for a set of spars. † d. A set of musical pieces, pictures, etc. e. A suite of rooms. f. ‘A batch of biscuits, weighing 1 cwt., or one charge of the oven’ (Simmonds Dict. Trade). g. U.S. The whole complement of hair, whiskers, etc. that a person has. † h. A gold watch, usu. with seals, case, etc. Criminals' slang. Obs.
a.c1402Lydg. Compl. Bl. Knt. 82 The sute of trees aboute compassing Hir shadowe caste.
b.1424E.E. Wills (1882) 57 An oþer flat pece [of plate] of þe suit þat were my faders. 1577Harrison England ii. x. 85 b, A siluer salte, a bowle for wine..and a dussen of spoones, to furnishe vp the sute. 1615in W. M. Williams Ann. Founders' Co. (1867) 92 Pd for on Sute of Bell Waights compleat 5 12 0. 1622Mabbe tr. Aleman's Guzman d'Alf. ii. iii. v. 298 A handsome sute of chaires. 1623in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. III. 143 A rich suite of hangings. 1654Gayton Pleas. Notes iii. v. 100 A Missale, six Crucifixes, a sute of Beads. 1686Plot Staffordsh. 376 They make them [sc. locks] in Sutes, six, eight, or more in a sute. 1712Addison Spect. No. 323 ⁋21 In Conference with my Mantua-Maker. Sorted a Suit of Ribbands. 1737Salmon's Cy. Bldr.'s Estimator (ed. 2) 111 These [Locks] are likewise sold in Sute. 1762–71H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) I. 247 A suit of tapestry. 1778W. H. Marshall Minutes Agric. 8 Jan. 1776, A suit of pasturing paddocks are convenient about Home. 1782[T. Vaughan] Fash. Follies I. 145 A..complete suit of diamonds. a1817T. Dwight Trav. New Eng., etc. (1821) II. 196 A suit of oars. 1821Scott Kenilw. viii, A woman..changes her lovers like her suit of ribands. 1845S. Judd Margaret i. ii, There were no suits of knives and forks.
c.1626Capt. J. Smith Accid. Yng. Seamen 17 A suit of sayles. 1635in Foster Crt. Min. E. Ind. Comp. (1907) 114 [To make new sails for his ship, she having only one new] suyte. 1748Anson's Voy. ii. ii. 135 With all the..remnants of old sails that could be mustered, we could only make up one compleat suit. 1851Kipping Sailmaking (ed. 2) 91 Making a suit of Sails for a Barque of 300 Tons. c1860H. Stuart Seaman's Catech. 62 The third suit of sails forms the ground tier. 1912J. Masefield Dauber iv. v. in Engl. Rev. Oct. 365 He had once worked aloft, Shifting her suits one summer afternoon.
d.1682Lond. Gaz. No. 1726/4 A Suit of Vocal and Instrumental Musick from the Odeum or Musick Gallery. 17..J. Loeillet (title) Six Suits of Lessons for the Harpsichord or Spinnet. 1779J. Moore View Soc. Fr. (1789) I. xxxviii. 330 The most admired of all Holben's works is a suit of small pieces.
e.1741Warburton Div. Legat. II. 280 A magnificent Palace..with all its Suits of Apartments. 1789Mrs. Piozzi Journ. France I. 283 The apartments..run in suits like Wanstead house in Essex. 1848Dickens Dombey iii, A whole suit of drawing-rooms. 1858Eng. Cycl., Biog. s.v. Usher, He took up his residence in a suit of apartments provided for him in the inn.
f.1845Encycl. Metrop. VIII. 802/2 The quantity baked each time, which is called a suit, is about 112 pounds weight before being placed in the oven.
g.1845S. Judd Margaret ii. i, A suit of enormous black whiskers. 1867A. J. Wilson Vashti xxxiii, Leaving a few lines written in pencil on a handkerchief, in which she had wrapped her superb suit of hair. 1893‘Mark Twain’ Pudd'nhead Wilson ii, She had a heavy suit of fine soft hair, which was also brown.
h.1718C. Hitching Regulator 13 They [sc. pickpockets] greatly benefit; either by a Suit, alias Gold-watch,..or by a Wedge Lobb, alias Gold or Silver Snuff-Box. 1839H. Ainsworth Jack Sheppard II. xiv. 40 A fence, or receiver,..bargaining with a..pickpocket, for a suit,—or to speak in more intelligible language, a watch and seals.
19. A set of garments or habiliments intended to be worn together at the same time. (Cf. 13.)
a. of church vestments, esp. chasuble and dalmatics, cope, etc. of the same colour and material.
1495in Somerset Med. Wills (1901) 330 My sewte of blew velwet vestimentes. 1552–3Inv. Church Goods, Stafford 2, iiij shutes of vestements to minester withall. 1558N. Country Wills (Surtees) II. 6 My suyte of red vestementes. a1700Evelyn Diary 18 Jan. 1645 One priestly cope, with the whole suite. c1716in J. O. Payne Rec. Eng. Cath. 1715 (1889) 105 Vestment suites 12, albs 8, amices 10. 1874J. T. Micklethwaite Mod. Par. Churches 163 So that each suit of vestments may have its own drawer.
b. of men's or boys' outer garments; in full, suit of apparel, suit of clothes. Now usually, a jacket and trousers of the same material, sometimes with matching waistcoat, and esp. for formal or office use.
c1420Sir Amadace (Camden) lvi, Say him my sute is quite. 1552–3in Feuillerat Revels Edw. VI (1914) 89 Five suetes of apparrell. 1553T. Wilson Rhet. 51 He hath his chaunge of sutes, yea, he spareth not to go in his silkes and veluet. 1584in Feuillerat Revels Q. Eliz. (1908) 365, xxxti⊇ ells of sarcenet for fower matachyne sutes. 1625Bacon Ess., Masques (Arb.) 540 Let the Sutes of the Masquers, be Gracefull. 1641Symonds Serm. bef. Ho. Comm. B ij b, If a man order his Taylor to make him a sute. 1642in Decl. Commons Rebell. Irel. (1643) 29 The six hundred suits of clothes were for the Souldiers in Ireland. 1683Wood Life (O.H.S.) III. 74 To Mr. Spencer the tayler for turning and altering my gray suite..14s. 1738Gentl. Mag. VIII. 4/1 One that..doth not put off his Religion with his Sunday's Suit. 1840R. H. Dana Bef. Mast x, We had on oil-cloth suits and southwester caps. 1877Spurgeon Serm. XXIII. 486 You cannot force that little heart to be anxious about the next suit of clothes. 1892Gunter Miss Dividends (1893) 93 His light travelling suit. 1897[see pyjama suit s.v. pyjamas b]. 1932G. Greene Stamboul Train i. i. 7 He..required no longer..his suit from Savile Row..to hearten him. a1953E. O'Neill Hughie (1959) 8 He wears an ill-fitting blue serge suit. 1960C. Day Lewis Buried Day ii. 43, I am standing..in a white suit and holding my broad-brimmed round straw hat.
c. of women's attire: in earlier use, an entire set of garments for wear at one time; in recent use, a costume (i.e. coat and skirt). Cf. trouser suit.
1761Brit. Mag. II. 444 A suit of cloaths is weaving for a lady of quality, which will amount to 36 l. per yard. 1770Langhorne Plutarch (1879) I. 103/2 The bride was to bring with her only three suits of clothes. 1778F. Burney Evelina x, They have promised me a compleat suit of linen against the evening. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair xiv, Her smartest evening suit. 1913Play Pictorial No. 132. p. vi/3 A great variety of linen suits and frocks in exclusive styles.
d. of armour.
1821Scott Kenilw. xxxix. Their suits of leathern and paper armour. 1859Tennyson Geraint & Enid 95 The three gay suits of armour. 1880[see armour n. 1].
e. transf., fig., and allusively.
birthday suit (humorous): the bare skin; see also s.v. birthday 3.
1593Drayton Heroic. Ep. iii. 125 In her Masking Sute, the spangled Skie, Come forth to bride it in her Revelrie. 1607Rowlands Diogines Lanthorne 33 A gallant groue, That wore greene Sommers sute. 1697Collier Ess. Mor. Subj. ii. (1709) 105 Like Cloath ill made, he looks better in the Shop, than he wears in the Sute. a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Suit and Cloak, good store of Brandy or any agreable Liquor, let down Gutter-lane. 1804J. Grahame Sabbath (1839) 8/2 The redbreast's sober suit. 1809Malkin Gil Blas i. viii. ⁋2, I will strip this holy father to his birthday suit. 1858W. Arnot Laws fr. Heaven Ser. ii. xlix. 403 If honour be your clothing, the suit will last a life-time.
† f. Bot. Grew's name for the tubular florets (florets of the disk) in composite (and similar) flowers. Obs.
1671Grew Anat. Pl. i. v. (1682) 38 The several Thrums or rather Suits, whereof the Attire is made up,..are ever consistent of more than one, sometimes of Two, and for the most part of Three Pieces (for which I call them Suits).
g. = bathing-suit s.v. bathing vbl. n. 2, swim-suit s.v. swim n. 10 b.
1883L. Troubridge Life amongst Troubridges (1966) 165 Walked along..meaning to bathe... Ran down in our suits. 1949D. Smith I capture Castle x. 162 We didn't bathe because none of us had brought suits. 1977Times 16 June 13/6 The suit in our picture..is the first suit for ages..to cover up the spare tyre.
20. a. Any of the four sets (distinguished by their several marks, as spades, clubs, hearts, diamonds) of which a pack of playing-cards consists. Also, the whole number of cards belonging to such a set held in a player's hand at one time. Often in fig. context and allusively. long suit: see long a.1 5 b, 5 c.
1529Latimer 2nd Serm. Card in Foxe A. & M. (1563) 1304/1, I purpose agayne to deale vnto you an other card, almost of the same sute. 1589Martins Months Minde Ep. to Rdr., Leauing the auncient game of England (Trumpe) where euerie coate, and sute are sorted in their degree, [they] are running to their Ruffe where the greatest sorte of the sute carrieth away the game. 1622Peacham Compl. Gentl. vii. 65, I haue seene French Cards to play withall, the foure suites changed into Maps of seuerall Countries. 1688Holme Armoury iii. xvi. (Roxb.) 73 Fiue cards of a shute. 1742Hoyle Whist 12 You need seldom return your Partner's Lead, if you have good Suits of your own to play. Ibid. 22 If you have Ace, King, and four small Trumps, with a good Suit, you must play three Rounds of Trumps, otherwise you may have your strong Suit trumped. 1755Young Centaur iii. 144 If there are no Fools to be taken in, he makes a pretty good hand of it with a Knave of the right suit. 1816Singer Hist. Cards 61 Each Suit consists of nine Cards; the backs are black. 1876Encycl. Brit. V. 100/1 A pack of tarots consists of seventy-eight cards, four suits of numeral cards and twenty-two emblematic cards. 1876A. Campbell-Walker Correct Card (1880) Gloss. p. xiii, Beginning with the lowest card but one of the suit you lead originally, if it contains more than four cards. 1884Bath Herald 26 Jan. 3/1 The Government are determined to meet Parliament with a strong suit of trumps in the hand. 1885Proctor Whist iv. 69 Keep the command of an adversary's suit. 1898Daily News 4 Jan. 3/1 The police and detectives are the New York reporter's strong suit.
b. to follow suit (earlier † in suit): to play a card of the same suit as the leading card; hence often fig., to do the same thing as somebody or something else. (Cf. 13 c.)
1680Cotton Compl. Gamester (ed. 2) 61 The elder begins and younger follows in suit as at Whisk. Ibid. 82 Not following suit when you have it in your hand. 1788J. Beaufort Hoyle's Games Impr. 15 Having but two or three small trumps, he should never force his partner to trump, if he finds he cannot follow suit. 1849Chambers's Inform. People II. 663/2 If a person happens not to follow suite, or trump a suite. 1851H. Melville Moby Dick i. v. 47, I quickly followed suit, and descending into the bar-room accosted the grinning landlord. 1859Dickens T. Two Cities i. ii, The three other horses followed suit. 1865― Mut. Fr. iii. xv, You can't get beforehand with me... You can only follow suit. You can't deprive me of the lead. 1885W. E. Norris Adrian Vidal xvi, The ‘Monday Review’ happened to be the first to notice ‘Two Lovers’; but other journals speedily followed suit.
VI. Sequence; agreement.
†21. A succession, sequence. Obs. rare.
1412–20Lydg. Chron. Troy ii. 6797 Euery day þe blomys wer renewed; And þe blosmys, with many sondri swt. 1589Puttenham Engl. Poesie iii. xix. (Arb.) 208 When we make one word begin, and..lead the daunce to many verses in sute. 1625Bacon Ess., Viciss. Things (Arb.) 571 Euery Fiue and Thirtie years, The same Kinde and Sute of Years and Weathers, comes about againe.
†22. for suit of: on account of. in suit of: in consequence of. Obs.
1451Yatton Church-w. Acc. (Som. Rec. Soc.) 94 Yn costage to Well for sowte of the churche gods yn two tymes, xviijd. a1652I. Jones in Leoni Palladio's Archit. (1742) I. 72 It is a hard thing in suit of the Difficulty to accommodate the Chambers and other Places.
23. in suit with: in agreement or harmony with. of a suit with: of a piece with.
1797A. M. Bennett Beggar Girl (1813) II. 2 A Cerberus in human form whose manual strength was in suit with the ferocity of his manners. Ibid. 116 Books, music, maps, papers..totally out of suite with the part of the cabin and its furniture yet remaining. 1806Jefferson Mem. etc. (1829) IV. 56 The legislature had sanctioned that idea... It seemed, therefore, that the Governor should be in suit with them. 1899Hardy A Changed Man, Enter a Dragoon (1913) 166 A life whose incidents were precisely of a suit with those which had preceded the soldier's return.
VII. Combinations.
24. attrib. and Comb., as (senses 19 b, c) suit coat, suit-jacket; suit bag, (a) a protective covering for a suit which is not being worn; (b) a travelling bag designed to contain a suit of clothes; † suit-breeder, a promoter of legal prosecutions; † suit-broker, one who made a business of procuring a favourable hearing for suits; † suit-court (see quot.); suit-covenant, -custom Feudal Law (see quots.); suit-duty, obligation to give suit at a mill; † suit-groat, a due paid in lieu of suit at court; suit-hold (see hold n.1 1 b), tenure by suit and service to the superior; † suit-jogger, a promoter of lawsuits; suit length, a piece of material of the right size for making into a suit; also fig.; † suit-maker, one who institutes a suit; suit-mark, any of the marks distinguishing suits of cards; suit-roll Hist., the roll of persons bound to give suit at a particular court; suit-service Feudal Law, service rendered by attendance at a lord's court; also fig.; † suit-shape, a fashion of clothes; † suit-silver, a local name for a due paid in lieu of suit at a court; suit-weight, used attrib. of fabrics of an appropriate thickness for making up into suits; † suit-worth a., worthy of imitation.
1966Olney Amsden & Sons Ltd. Price List 5 *Suit bag zipped 51/9 doz. 1978W. Stovall Presidential Emergency i. 1 He set down his suit bag, underseater and attaché case.
1691Shadwell Scowrers ii. i, Attornys, those *Suit-breeders, those Litigious Rogues.
1632Massinger Maid of Hon. ii. ii, A *suit-broker in court.
1971D. E. Westlake I gave at the Office (1972) 15 A guy..whose *suitcoat collar was turned up indoors. 1972National Observer (U.S.) 27 May 1/4 Wallace removed his suit coat, handed it to an aide, and moved forward to greet well-wishers.
1755Johnson, *Suit Court, is the court in which tenants owe attendance to their lord. Bailey.
1579[Rastell] Expos. Termes Lawes 174 b, *Suit couenaunt is when your auncestor haue couenanted with my auncestours to sue to the court of my auncestors.
Ibid., *Suit custome is when I and my auncestours haue beene seised of your owne suite and your auncestours, time out of minde.
c1460Oseney Reg. 75 Of no *Sute Dewte, by such maner, we shall axe or chalenge of þe forsaide maynye or men.
1556in Archaeologia XXXIV. 53 Paid for a *suitt groat at the same time. 1615MS. Acc. St. John's Hosp., Canterb., Payd Lordis Rentis..and seut grote.
1864Wharton Law-Lex. (ed. 3) 868/2 *Suithold, a tenure in consideration of certain services to the superior lord.
1965M. Shadbolt Among Cinders x. 79 The crumpled..*suit-jacket with sleeves too short. 1977Transatlantic Rev. LX. 69 She had taken off her suitjacket.
1630J. Taylor (Water P.) Gt. Eater Kent Wks. 143/1 Proiect-mongers, *Suit-ioggers, and Stargazers.
1924J. Joyce Let. 30 Sept. (1957) II. 221 There is now a special cheap edition..about 1/111/4 per normal novel *suitlength real continental. 1971D. Lees Rainbow Conspiracy ii. 24 The foreman weaver in most mills is allowed to take any end pieces as part of his perks... More often than not he finds himself with a suit length.
1469–70in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 307 Lasse [= unless] the *suete makere will sue him that hath done the offence, after the course of the commene lawe.
1905Athenæum 18 Nov. 683/3 The *suit-marks were possibly coins, cups, bells, and birds.
1532Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. VI. 116 Bringand with thame the *sute roll of thair Sherefdome. 1541Records of Elgin (New Spald. Club) I. 55 Quhilk day was assingit to the saidis personis to produce thair instrumentis and to be enterit in the soit roll. 1914Clouston Rec. Earld. Orkney Introd. p. lxxxv, The suit-rolls containing their names making a practically complete list of the county gentry.
1579[Rastell] Expos. Termes Lawes 211 b, *Suit seruice is to come to the Court from iij. weekes to iij. weekes by the whole yeare. 1651tr. Kitchin's Courts Leet (1657) 291 Suit-service is by reason of Free-hold, that is, by reason of their tenure, that is, for that they hold of their Lord by suit to his Court. 1870D. G. Rossetti Youth's Spring-tribute 13 For this Is even the hour of Love's sworn suitservice.
1598Marston Sco. Villanie x. 164 This fashion-mounger..Contemplates *sute shapes.
1672Manley Cowel's Interpr., *Sute-silver, is a small Rent, or sum of Money, which, if paid, does excuse the Freeholders from the appearance at the Court-Barons within the Honor of Clun in Shropshire.
1955Archit. Rev. CXVII. 351 (caption) Light *suit-weight Cheviot tweed by Michal Illan. 1963Guardian 10 May 8/4 Tweed, flannel or other suit-weight woollen.
1594R. Carew Tasso v. 211 If any may *sutewoorth example finde.
b. In Bridge, freq. as opp. to no trumps phr., as suit-bid, suit-break, suit call, suit contract, suit declaration, suit double, suit game, suit-jump; suit preference signal, a play of a card of a certain rank to indicate which suit one wishes one's partner to return.
1917E. Bergholt Royal Auction Bridge I. 90 In some circles, the practice of raising partner's *suit-bid, when no other bid has intervened, is considerably overdone.
1962Times 24 Oct. 3/7 Why be forced into a higher contract which may be in jeopardy through unlucky *suit-breaks?
1907Westm. Gaz. 18 May 14/1 As to a *suit call, the original lead must never be from a suit that contains a probable trick.
1977Homes & Gardens Feb. 14 Presumably he also appreciates the point I made above about playing unbalanced hands in a *suit contract.
1910W. Dalton Saturday Bridge iv. 65 (heading) Defensive *suit declarations by the dealer.
1927Observer 13 Mar. 27 The *suit double..has several interesting aspects.
1910W. Dalton Saturday Bridge vii. 89 There are two distinct games at Bridge, the No Trump game and the *suit game.
1929M. C. Work Compl. Contract Bridge 52 When determining whether to make a *suit-jump of two or three..do not be influenced..by Queens or Jacks of other suits.
1934H. Lavinthal in Bridge World June 5/1, I am offering a new convention for the defense. I call this convention the High-Low *Suit Preference Signal. 1981Times 14 Nov. 17/6 Where there is any risk of confusion, suit preference signals should not be applied to the first trick.
Add:[V.] [19.] h. One who wears a business suit at work; a business executive. slang (orig. U.S.).
1979T. Sullivan Glitter St. (1981) vi. 32 McBride was an exception to the usual ‘suits’ at the Bureau. 1987TV Week (Melbourne) 23 May 4/1 A kid..eager to propel himself out of the mail-room, where he has a menial job, into the executive ranks of those who are called ‘suits’. 1989Times 18 Dec. 22/1 A ‘suit’, in advertising parlance, is an account executive responsible for winning new clients and buttering them up when won.
▪ II. suit, v.|s(j)uːt|
Forms: 5–6 suyt, 6 sewt, shute, Sc. su(i)tt, soute, 6–8 sute, suite, 6– suit.
[f. prec.]
†1. intr. To ‘do suit’ to a court; hence, to have recourse to. Obs.
c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 3575 Shrewes þan on happ sall' suyt To my body for refuyt. c1540[see suiting vbl. n. 1].
†2. To prefer a suit; to sue to a person for something. Obs.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 67 These holy fathers knowyng theyr owne conscyence clere..hauynge no record of man to declare them..sewted to almyghty god. 1536St. Papers Hen. VIII, V. 61, I will never soute..of the King of Scottes, but by the Kinges Highnes meanes here. 1567in Tytler Hist. Scot. (1864) III. 247, I am so suited to for to enterprise the revenge. 1641Cheke's Hurt Sedit. Life b iv b, Three powerfull competitors all suiting for it. 1679C. Nesse Antid. agst. Popery 90 God loves to be suited unto by saints and angels. 1719Caldwell Pap. (Maitl. Club) I. 238 I'm ready to think that your lordship's friendship may give it to either of the gentlemen who now suit for it.
†3. trans. To make an application or appeal for, to solicit; to sue for in a court of law. Sc. Obs.
1567in Tytler Hist. Scot. (1864) III. 248 The nobility are of mind to suit assistance of the queen. 1573–4Reg. Privy Council Scot. Ser. i. II. 330 The coistis..and interes sustenit..aucht to be sutit and persewit alsua befoir the saidis Judgeis. 1575in Maitl. Cl. Misc. (1840) I. 121 He..had humblie suittit..to haue bene admittit to the said celebratioun. 1598in Row Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.) 190 It is caried..that the Kirk..should sute vote in Parliament. 1616W. Haig in J. Russell Haigs (1881) vii. 162 Never the boldness..to..suit recompence from your Majesty. 1633W. Struther True Happiness 49 If we had merite to deserve it, we needed not Suit it of God. 1710in Nairne Peerage Evidence (1874) 44 What else he may suite ask claim and crave. 1717Ibid. 146 To suit execution hereon.
†4. To make one's suit to, petition; to bring a suit against; to sue. Obs.
1559–60MS. Cott. Calig. B. ix, Then sall they not fayle to sute zow in zour awne countrey. 1566–7Reg. Privy Council Scot. Ser. i. I. 503 The Quenis Majestie, being ernistlie suitit be the Quene of Inglandis ambassatouris..for payment. c1610Sir J. Melvil Mem. (1735) 348 The King of Scotland was suiting her Majesty for an Alliance. a1653Binning Serm. (1845) 272 Let Wisdom have but a patient hearing,..and she will carry it off from all that suit you.
†5. intr. To pay court to a woman. Obs.
c1590Montgomerie Wks. (S.T.S.) Suppl. Vol. 221 First serve, syne sute,..gif thow intend to win thy ladyis grace. 1639N. N. tr. Du Bosq's Compl. Woman ii. 58 Iberina..who had a mind to as many men as suited unto her. 1749Fielding Tom Jones v. v, If the greatest Squire in all the Country would come a suiting to me to-morrow.
†6. trans. To pursue, follow. Sc. Obs.
1582Reg. Privy Council Scot. Ser. i. III. 525 The saidis personis..in lyke maner sutit Johnne Blak,..and wald have brokin up his durris. c1590J. Stewart Poems (S.T.S.) II. 69 The precelling Paladeine..In sutting him with diligence did tend Quhair thair occurs sic cursit canckerd cair.
†7.
a. To pursue, aim at; to seek to obtain. Sc.
1559–60MS. Cott. Calig. B. ix, Gif by zour frendly support.. ze sall declare that not only sute ze not the ruyne off our country, but will [etc.]. 1587Reg. Privy Council Scot. Ser. i. IV. 197 Minassing and avowing to sute the lyveis of his tennentis. c1590J. Stewart Poems (S.T.S.) II. 218 His mercie great..Quhilk gif ȝe sute..Ȝit he vill led ȝow from that haples place. 1686J. Renwick in Life (Biogr. Presbyt. 1827) II. 270 He [sc. Christ] suites the Creatures Affection, as if it were of some Worth.
†b. To seek in marriage; to woo. Chiefly Sc.
1615R. Brathwait Loves Labyrinth (1878) 274 Sewing, and suting Thysbe for his bride. 1630Rutherford Lett. (1862) I. vii. 53 The Lord, who is suiting you in marriage. a1639Spottiswood Hist. Ch. Scot. ii. (1677) 105 He was..sent Ambassador to..the Emperor, to suit his daughter Margaret in marriage. 1676Row Contin. Blair's Autobiog. xii. (1848) 527 Lady Margaret Kennedy had lived a virgin unmarried, (though suited by severals).
†8.
a. To arrange in a set, sequence, or series; to set in due order, sort out. Also with forth. Obs.
1552in Archæol. Cant. (1872) VIII. 104 Item iij bells in the steple suted. 1554in Feuillerat Revels Q. Mary (1914) 159 Svting performynge and puttinge the same in aredynes to be engrosed. 1571― Revels Q. Eliz. (1908) 129 Ffowlding, suting, putting in order and bestowing of the Garmentes. 1586A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. (1595) 22 All which I referre to their peculiar places each one, as they are suted foorth to be in their kindes deliuered. Ibid. 100 There are Letters also might be suted vnder this forme. 1608Topsell Serpents 270 As for separating,..carding, or suting their stuffe, they are very Bunglers. 1655E. Terry Voy. East-India 385 The Company sent the Mogol..an able Coach-man, to sute and mannage some of his excellent Horses. 1695Blackmore Pr. Arth. ii. 74 He..suits and ranges Natures that agree.
†b. intr. To range oneself. Obs. rare.
1591Savile Tacitus, Hist. i. lxiv. 36 As the rest of the souldiers suted on sides.
9. a. trans. To provide with a suit of clothes; to clothe, attire, dress. Chiefly pass. arch.
1577Stanyhurst Hist. Ireland in Holinshed 105/2 He woulde not..buy a sute of apparell for himselfe, but hee woulde sute hir [sc. his wife] with the same stuffe. 1591Lodge Catharos Wks. (Hunter. Club) 11 Shall I sute thee Cosmosophos?.. I wil haue thee apparailed according to discipline and order. 1596Shakes. Merch. V. i. ii. 79 How odly he is suited, I thinke he bought his doublet in Italie. 1600Heywood 1st Pt. Edw. IV, i. i, Birchin Lane shall suit us. 1604B. Jonson King Jas. Entert. A iij, Whereof the one..was suted in blacke and purple. a1661Fuller Worthies, Cambr. (1662) 161, I will suit you (if so pleased,) with a light habit. 1662St. George's Day (1685) 10 All suted in..Satin Gowns, and Velvet Caps. 1829J. Sterling Ess., etc. (1848) I. 85 More solemnly suited with black, he was placed in a room hung round with faded green. 1887Pall Mall Gaz. 12 Feb. 4/1 No caparisoned beasts..suited in burnished mail..but sturdy steeds.
b. refl. To dress or attire oneself. Obs. or arch.
1594[R. Barnfield] Affect. Sheph. ii. li, The learned Sisters sute themselues in blacke. 1594Marlowe & Nashe Dido i. i, It is the vse for Turen maides to..suite themselues in purple. 1600Shakes. A.Y.L. i. iii. 118 Were it not better..That I did suite me all points like a man? 1607Rowlands Fam. Hist. 23 My Armour shall be black! I'le suit me in a mournful Iron-shell. 1624Heywood Gunaik. i. 25 Any man that hath bought cloath to suite himself. 1822W. Jameson in Mem. & Lett. (1845) 80 One who suits himself only once a year.
c. transf. and fig.
1589Nashe Anat. Absurd. Ep. Ded., Fortune..suted poore Flaunders and Fraunce in her frownes, and saluted Englands soule with a smoothed forehead. 1594J. Dickenson Arisbas (1878) 30 His Fame..suted in robes of immortalitie,..towres to the clouds. c1600Shakes. Sonn. cxxvii, My Mistresse eyes [conj. brows] are Rauen blacke, Her eyes so suted, and they mourners seeme. 1628Wither Brit. Rememb. ii. 55 Yea, many times he suites His Deity in our poore attributes. 1633Bp. Hall Hard Texts, N.T. 363 Wherefore then, O Saviour, art thou thus suited in crimson and dyed red with blood?
d. To fit (someone) up with a specific type of clothing, as for sport, protection, etc. Cf. kit v.1 2. U.S.
1945M. H. Allee Smoke Jumper iii. 24 A man suited up for smoke jumping would almost as soon fall into the fire itself as into deep water. 1970New Yorker 24 Oct. 140/3 Yale suited up sixty men, including four quarterbacks. 1976Daily Tel. 1 Sept. 3/3 Only when everyone [sc. U.S. policemen] is suited up is the order given to tackle a disorderly crowd. 1979Tucson Mag. Apr. 66 (Advt.), Dave Bloom and Sons will suit you up for all your active sport needs.
10. a. To make appropriate or agreeable to; to adapt or accommodate in style, manner, or proportion to; to make consonant or accordant with; to render suitable. Also refl.
1600Shakes. A.Y.L. ii. vii. 81 He..That..therein suites His folly to the mettle of my speech. 1602― Ham. iii. ii. 19 Sute the Action to the Word, the Word to the Action. 1610Heywood Gold. Age ii. i, Oh sute your pitty with your Angell-beauty. 1621Quarles Div. Poems, Esther (1630) 121 The King commands the servants of his State, To suite respect to Hamans high estate. 1711Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) I. 200 He..sutes himself..to the fancy of his reader. 1781Cowper Charity 153 To suit His manners with his fate, [he] puts on the brute. 1787Best Angling (ed. 2) 90 When you make the palmer-fly suit the colour of the silk to the hackle you dub with. 1831Scott Cast. Dang. viii, [They] took care to suit their answers to the questions put to them. 1844Kinglake Eothen xvii, The peculiar way in which you are obliged to suit yourself to the movements of the beast [sc. a camel]. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. iv. xiv, ‘I mean to knock your head against the wall,’ returned John Harmon, suiting his action to his words, with the heartiest good-will. 1874Mahaffy Soc. Life Greece viii. 261 Try..to perform as well as possible what the gods have suited to your nature.
b. freq. in pass. (to be suited to = 13, 14.)
1596Shakes. Merch. V. iii. v. 70 O deare discretion, how his words are suted. c1605Rowley Birth Merl. i. i, Provided My Daughters love be suited with my grant. c1611Chapman Iliad xxiii. 417 Your words are suited to your eyes. 1771Junius Lett. lxiii. (1788) 334 Both the law and the language are well suited to a Barrister! 1821Scott Kenilw. xxxviii, I ceased to consider either courts, or court-intrigues, as suited to my temper or genius. 1837Goring & Pritchard Microgr. 210 They will soon..thrust themselves into situations of restraint well suited for the purpose. 1874Green Short Hist. vii. §3. (1882) 364 It [sc. a policy] was one eminently suited to Elizabeth's peculiar powers.
11. To provide, furnish. Chiefly pass. (or refl.), to be provided (or provide oneself) with something desired and in such a manner as to please one.
1607Tourneur Rev. Trag. iii. v, Hee's suted for a Lady. 1642D. Rogers Naaman 45 God..sutes the one with willingnesse to be holpen, and the other with readinesse to helpe. 1782Cowper Gilpin 58 'Twas long before the customers Were suited to their mind. 1837Hood Hymen. Retrosp. ii. 26 Cook, by the way, came up to-day To bid me suit myself. 1848Dickens Dombey ii, I hope you are suited, my dear. 1852Thackeray Esmond iii. iii, I am thinking of retiring into the plantations, and..if I want company, suiting myself with a squaw.
†12. To find a parallel to, match. Obs. rare.
1589? Lyly Pappe w. Hatchet Wks. 1902 III. 409, I haue taken an inuentorie of al thy..rakehell tearmes, and could sute them in no place but in Bedlam and Bridewell.
13. a. To be agreeable or convenient to (a person, his inclinations, etc.); to fall in with the views or wishes of.
a1578Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) II. 254 The lordis of Edinburgh..thocht to have taine the same and suitted nocht my lord of Mortounis men of weir. a1595Satir. Poems Reform. xvii. 22 Quhat plesis them, the same the pepill suittis. 1719Caldwell Papers (Maitl. Club) I. 238 Either to answer or not, as best suits your conveniency. 1779Mirror No. 34 That sort of promise which a man keeps when the thing suits his inclination. 1786Jefferson Writ. (1859) II. 3 It is only to keep alive pretensions which may authorize the commencement of hostilities when it shall suit them. 1812Byron Ch. Har. i. iii, But whence his name And lineage long, it suits me not to say. 1889Jerome Three Men in Boat 17 Harris said that the river would suit him to a ‘T’. 1894Hall Caine Manxman iii. xix. 190 Then came the change of the day to suit his supposed convenience.
b. suit yourself: do (or think) as you please, please yourself. colloq.
1897Kipling Capt. Cour. i. 21 ‘You stole it.’ ‘Suit yourself. We stole it ef it's any comfort to you.’ 1932W. Faulkner Light in August xxi. 478 ‘I reckon I'll ride back here,’ she says... ‘Suit yourself,’ I says. And we drove off. 1953K. Tennant Joyful Condemned xiii. 120 ‘Just suit yourself.’ Miss Pilcher shrugged her broad shoulders. 1977‘M. Underwood’ Murder with Malice xiii. 118 ‘I'll probably call back later.’ ‘Suit yourself,’ the woman said, indifferently.
14. a. To be fitted or adapted to, be suitable for, answer the requirements of.
1603J. Davies Microcosmos Wks. (Grosart) I. 77/2 What is't On Earth that shee thinks (be'ng so superfine) Worthie to suite her, but alone to reigne? 1650Sir W. Mure Cry Blood 509 Tears sute the season. 1692Locke 3rd Let. Toler. x. 264 There being..no necessity of Miracles for any other end, but to supply the want of the Magistrate's Assistance, they must, to sute that end, be constant. 1733Pope Ess. Man iii. 80 All enjoy that pow'r which suits them best. 1784Cowper Task i. 106 The Sofa suits The gouty limb. 1815J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 650 The sort which he knows will suit the soil and situation of his land. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. xx. IV. 453 One poet is the eagle: another is the swan: a third modestly compares himself to the bee. But none of these types would have suited Montague. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 591 His own explanation did not suit all phenomena. 1891Speaker 11 July 37/1 The error of supposing that what suits a small country could be readily transplanted to large European States.
b. To be good for, ‘agree with’; esp. to be favourable to the health of (a person).
1814Scott Diary 16 Aug. in Lockhart, The wet and boggy walk not suiting his gout. 1861Baroness Bunsen in Hare Life (1879) II. v. 289 It does not suit my eyes to employ them by candlelight. 1882Med. Temp. Jrnl. I. 128 What suits us we think ought to suit..other people.
c. To be becoming to.
1819Scott Ivanhoe xxxv, It suits not our condition to hold with thee long communication. 1872Geo. Eliot Middlem. i, Souls have complexions too; what will suit one will not suit another. 1884G. Allen Philistia II. 5 It suits your complexion admirably.
†15. intr. To agree together. Obs.
1630Prynne Anti-Armin. 182 They all accord and fitly suite together in one intiretie.
16. To be suitable, fitting, or convenient; to match or be in accord.
1816Jane Austen Emma III. ii. 20 Frank Churchill is a capital dancer, I understand—We shall see if our styles suit. a1817― Persuasion (1818) IV. v. 91 Mr. Elliot is an exceedingly agreeable man..but we should not suit. 1821Scott Kenilw. xiv, If opportunity suits. 1825T. Hook Sayings Ser. ii. Passion & Princ. ii, That's well, Sir,..that will suit well. 1847Tennyson Princ. Concl. 9 What style could suit? 1865Mrs. Carlyle Lett. III. 269 Say Saturday; if that does not suit there will be time to tell me. 1971‘D. Halliday’ Dolly & Doctor Bird xiii. 193 I've done an Eysenck personality inventory on you both... You wouldn't suit.
17. Const. preps.
a. to suit with: to agree, harmonize, or fit in with; to be suitable to; occas. to match in colour, etc. Obs. or arch.
1605Shakes. Macb. ii. i. 60 For feare Thy very stones prate of my where-about, And take the present horror from the time, Which now sutes with it. 1611A. Stafford Niobe 108 He..sees that the Court is not a place suting with his disposition. 1655Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 59/1 Tzetzes affirms he was Master to Thales, but that suits not with their times. 1677Moxon Mech. Exerc. i. 15 But of that in its proper place, because it suits not with this Section of Filing. 1681Dryden Abs. & Achit. 478 This Advice above the rest With Absalom's Mild Nature suited best. 1719De Foe Crusoe ii. (Globe) 509, I have a Project to communicate to you, which, as it suits with my Thoughts, may..suit with yours also. 1751Eliza Heywood Betsy Thoughtless I. 213 That she should be glad to see him, whenever it suited with his convenience. 1785Crabbe Newspaper 2 A busy, bustling time, Suits ill with writers, very ill with rhyme. 1815Scott Guy M. xxviii, His walking-dress..had so much of a military character as suited not amiss with his having such a weapon. 1853C. M. Yonge Heir of Redclyffe v, ‘A man ought to be six foot one, person and mind, to suit with that grand, sedate, gracious way of Philip's,’ said Guy. 1859Habits of Gd. Society iv. 174 The shawl is affronted with the gown; the bonnet is made to suit with both.
†b. to suit to: = 13, 14, 17 a. Obs.
1632Sir T. Hawkins tr. Mathieu's Unhappy Prosp. 241 Time cooperateth with his industry, and fortune sutes to his vigilance. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 211 Her [sc. the dodo's] legs suting to her body. 1653H. More Antid. Ath. ii. xii. §1 If I should pursue all that suits to my purpose it would amount to an intire Volume. 1690T. Burnet Review Theory Earth 29 note, A Text, that does not suit to their own Notions. a1700Dryden Sigism. & Guisc. 44 She cast her Eyes around the Court, to find A worthy Subject suiting to her Mind. 1802–12Bentham Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827) II. 136 Such solicitations as it suited not to him to make.
†c. To be fitted or adapted for. Obs.
1793[Earl Dundonald] Descr. Estate Culross 5 The bands of Iron Stone are numerous,..suiting partly for Forge and partly for Melting Iron.
†d. To act in accordance with, conform to. Obs. rare.
1647N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. xvi. (1739) 32 In matters of Action, [they] would suit with the occasion. Ibid. lxiv. 136 Two Ordinances made by the King, and such Lords as suted to the King's way. a1660Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.) I. 176 Taaffe was comaunded by the Councell, (as..sutinge to theire factious principles) to marche with his armie.
e. To dress oneself up in clothing designed for a specific task or purpose.
1959J. Blish Clash of Cymbals viii. 191 We should suit up at the half-hour. 1967Boston Sunday Herald 30 Apr. i. 22/2 Jim Lyle headed for the flight line to suit up for a routine mission aboard one of the giant radar picket planes. 1975‘A. Hall’ Mandarin Cypher xi. 170 ‘Time to suit up, isn't it?’.. I got into the wet-suit. 1978G. A. Sheehan Running & Being xv. 206 He will suit up and get out on the roads. |