| 释义 |
suitable, a. (adv.)|ˈs(j)uːtəb(ə)l|
Also 6–8 sut(e)able, 7–8 suiteable.
[f. suit v. + -able, after agreeable. Earlier synonyms were suit-like, suitly.
In the following passage seuthable may be an early example of this word, or may have arisen from a misreading of semable as seutable:—
1513Douglas æneid i. Prol. 394 Rycht so, by about speche oft in tymes, And seuthable [Camb. MS. semabill] wordis we compile our rymes. ]
†1. Of furniture, dress, features, etc.: Conforming or agreeing in shape, colour, pattern, or style; matching, to match. Const. to, with. Obs.
1582N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. i. lxxvi. 155 His Shooes..were all beset with Aglets of golde, and his Cap couered ouer with Buttons sutable to the same. 1584in Scott's Kenilw. Note K, A crymson sattin counter⁓pointe,..A chaise of crymson sattin, suteable. 1594Plat Jewell-ho. i. 21, I had an old wainescot window, that was peeced out with new wainscot by a good workeman, and both becam verie suteable and of one colour. 1614Markham Cheap Husb. ii. 110 The colour being sutable with the colour of the feathers on his head. 1625in Rymer's Fœdera (1726) XVIII. 237/2 The Bason enamelled..and the Layer [= ewer] sutable, haveing forty eighte small Dyamonds in the Bason. 1634–5Brereton Trav. (Chetham Soc.) 49 Four dainty suitable quarters in the court. 1635Stafford Fem. Glory 3 Her visage long, and her nose sutable. 1656Heylin Surv. France 98 The beds are all sutable one to the other. c1710C. Fiennes Diary (1888) 300 The doores to them [sc. cupboards] made suiteable to ye wanscoate.
†2. Of persons, actions, qualities, conditions, institutions: Conforming or agreeing in nature, condition, or action; accordant; corresponding; analogous; occas. congenial. Obs.
1592Greene Upst. Courtier D j, Euery seruile drudge must ruffle in his silkes, or else hee is not suteable. 1617Moryson Itin. ii. 88 This is a pleasant towne for seate if the inhabitants were sutable. 1647N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. viii. 25 Had not Bishops been somewhat sutable the Roman Clergy had not been like it self. 1649Bp. Reynolds Hosea iii. 19 God sets every blessing upon our score, and expects an answer and returne suteable. 1667Milton P.L. iii. 639 In his face Youth smil'd Celestial, and to every Limb Sutable grace diffus'd. 1718Steele Fish-pool 193 The..painful way, in which fish..are conveyed in Well-boats, must have suitable unhealthy effects. 1748W. Melmoth Fitzosb. Lett. xlvii, Certain suitable feelings which the objects that present themselves to his consideration instantly occasion in his mind.
†b. Const. to, with. Obs.
a1586Sidney Arcadia iii. xi. §5 The matter of your letters so fit for a worthy minde, and the maner so sutable to the noblenesse of the matter. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. xlix. §1 A worke most suteable with his purpose—who gaue himselfe to be the price of redemption for all. 1620T. Granger Div. Logike 42 Ouid describeth the figure of mans body sutable to his reasonable soule. 1638Sir H. Slingsby Diary (1836) 6 His disposition is not sutable with y⊇ rest of his fellow servants. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. viii. §11. 33 They have left us relations sutable to those of ælian. 1711Shaftesbury Charac. I. 33 Those Measures of Offence and Indignation, which we vulgarly suppose in God, are sutable to those original Ideas of Goodness which [He]..has implanted in us.
†c. Of two or more things: That are in agreement or accord. Obs.
1605Camden Rem., Names (1623) 45 Destinies were superstitiously by Onomantia desciphered out of names, as though the names and natures of men were sutable. 1640F. Roberts Clavis Bibl. 303 The suitable wickednesse of Priests and people. 1684Bunyan Pilgr. ii. 135 Gaius and they were such sutable Company, that they could not tell how to part.
3. That is fitted for, adapted or appropriate to a person's character, condition, needs, etc., a purpose, object, occasion, or the like. Const. to, for.
1607Shakes. Timon iii. vi. 92 What is amisse in them, you Gods, make suteable for destruction. 1621Sanderson Serm., Ad Pop. iv. (1632) 364 Worthy of all..civill respects sutable to his place and person. 1653Holcroft Procopius, Goth. Wars i. 10 Senseless fears not sutable to the occasion. 1672Petty Pol. Anat. (1691) 78 There are 750,000 in Ireland who could earn 2s. a week..if they had sutable employment. 1711Steele Spect. No. 113 ⁋4 As soon as I thought my Retinue suitable to the Character of my Fortune and Youth. 1798S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. II. 120 A suitable match for their daughter. 1812New Botanic Gard. I. 59 The most suitable season for transplanting the roots. 1815Elphinstone Acc. Caubul (1842) II. 215 As it was always a distinct government,..it seemed more suitable to treat of it separately. 1822Scott Nigel vi, A dress..more suitable to his age and quality than he had formerly worn. 1860Tyndall Glac. ii. iii. 246 A suitable atmosphere enveloping the most distant planet might render it..perfectly habitable. 1893J. A. Hodges Elem. Photogr. vii. 54 To make several experimental exposures on suitable subjects.
†4. = suable a. Obs. rare.
a1555Bradford in Foxe A. & M. (1570) III. 1838/1 The wife is no sutable person but the husband.
5. Comb., as suitable-sized adj.
1892E. Reeves Homeward Bound 337 A fixed price for five years for all the suitable-sized mutton they can grow.
B. as adv. = suitably. Const. to.
1584in Scott's Kenilw. Note K, A square stoole and a foote stoole, of crimson velvet, fringed and garnished suteable. 1631May tr. Barclay's Mirr. Mindes i. 189 Italy..is now bounded, (more suitable farre to the intention of Nature,) by the enclosure of those lofty Alpes. 1655Theophania 16 He..ever framed his discourse suitable to his company. 1664in Extr. State Papers rel. Friends (1912) iii. 224 That soe wee may steare our Course suitable to your Commands. 1748Hartley Observ. Man i. ii. §5. 235 Where a Person mis-spells suitable to a Mispronunciation. 1796E. Parsons Myst. Warning I. 31 To see her dear children cloathed, and attended suitable to their father's birth. |