suit

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

suit, 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.].

•  The act of following or pursuing, as game; pursuit.  [1913 Webster]
•  The act of suing; the process by which one endeavors to gain an end or an object; an attempt to attain a certain result; pursuit; endeavor.  [1913 Webster]

  "Thenceforth the suit of earthly conquest shone."  [1913 Webster]
•  The act of wooing in love; the solicitation of a woman in marriage; courtship.  [1913 Webster]

  "Rebate your loves, each rival suit suspend,
  Till this funereal web my labors end."  [1913 Webster]
•  The attempt to gain an end by legal process; an action or process for the recovery of a right or claim; legal application to a court for justice; prosecution of right before any tribunal; as, a civil suit; a criminal suit; a suit in chancery.  [1913 Webster]

  "I arrest thee at the suit of Count Orsino."  [1913 Webster]

  "In England the several suits, or remedial instruments of justice, are distinguished into three kinds -- actions personal, real, and mixed."  [1913 Webster]
•  That which follows as a retinue; a company of attendants or followers; the assembly of persons who attend upon a prince, magistrate, or other person of distinction; -- often written suite, and pronounced sw.  [1913 Webster]
•  Things that follow in a series or succession; the individual objects, collectively considered, which constitute a series, as of rooms, buildings, compositions, etc.; -- often written suite, and pronounced sw.  [1913 Webster]
•  A number of things used together, and generally necessary to be united in order to answer their purpose; a number of things ordinarily classed or used together; a set; as, a suit of curtains; a suit of armor; a suit of clothes; a three-piece business suit.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  One of the four sets of cards which constitute a pack; -- each set consisting of thirteen cards bearing a particular emblem, as hearts, spades, clubs, or diamonds; also, the members of each such suit held by a player in certain games, such as bridge; as, hearts were her long suit.  [1913 Webster]

  "To deal and shuffle, to divide and sort
  Her mingled suits and sequences."  [1913 Webster]
•  Regular order; succession.  [1913 Webster]

  "Every five and thirty years the same kind and suit of weather comes again."  [1913 Webster]
•  Someone who dresses in a business suit, as contrasted with more informal attire;  [1913 Webster]

Out of suits, having no correspondence. [Obs.] Shak. -- Suit and service (Feudal Law), the duty of feudatories to attend the courts of their lords or superiors in time of peace, and in war to follow them and do military service; -- called also suit service. Blackstone. -- Suit broker, one who made a trade of obtaining the suits of petitioners at court. [Obs.] -- Suit court (O. Eng. Law), the court in which tenants owe attendance to their lord. -- Suit covenant (O. Eng. Law), a covenant to sue at a certain court. -- Suit custom (Law), a service which is owed from time immemorial. -- Suit service. (Feudal Law) See Suit and service, above. -- To bring suit. (Law) (a) To bring secta, followers or witnesses, to prove the plaintiff's demand. [Obs.] (b) In modern usage, to institute an action. -- To follow suit. (a) (Card Playing) See under Follow, v. t. (b) To mimic the action of another person; to perform an action similar to what has preceded; as, when she walked in, John left the room and his wife followed suit. -- long suit (a) (Card Playing) the suit{8} of which a player has the largest number of cards in his hand; as, his long suit was clubs, but his partner insisted on making hearts trumps.. Hence: [fig.] that quality or capability which is a person's best asset; as, we could see from the mess in his room that neatness was not his long suit. -- strong suit same as long suit, (b). “I think our strong suit is that we can score from both the perimeter and the post.” Bill Disbrow (basketball coach) 1998. “Rigid ideological consistency has never been a strong suit of the Whole Earth Catalogue.” Bruce Sterling (The Hacker Crackdown, 1994)

suit, v. t. 

•  To fit; to adapt; to make proper or suitable; as, to suit the action to the word.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  To be fitted to; to accord with; to become; to befit.  [1913 Webster]

  "Ill suits his cloth the praise of railing well."  [1913 Webster]

  "Raise her notes to that sublime degree
  Which suits song of piety and thee."  [1913 Webster]
•  To dress; to clothe.  [1913 Webster]

  "So went he suited to his watery tomb."  [1913 Webster]
•  To please; to make content; as, he is well suited with his place; to suit one's taste.  [1913 Webster]

suit, v. i. 

 To agree; to accord; to be fitted; to correspond; -- usually followed by with or to.  [1913 Webster]
"The place itself was suiting to his care."  [1913 Webster]
"Give me not an office
That suits with me so ill."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To agree; accord; comport; tally; correspond; match; answer.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

suit, n. & v.
--n.
1 a a set of outer clothes of matching material for men, consisting usu. of a jacket, trousers, and sometimes a waistcoat. b a similar set of clothes for women usu. having a skirt instead of trousers. c (esp. in comb.) a set of clothes for a special occasion, occupation, etc. (play-suit; swimsuit).
2 a any of the four sets (spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs) into which a pack of cards is divided. b a player's holding in a suit (his strong suit was clubs). c Bridge one of the suits as proposed trumps in bidding, frequently as opposed to no trumps.
3 (in full suit at law) a lawsuit (criminal suit).
4 a a petition esp. to a person in authority. b the process of courting a woman (paid suit to her).
5 (usu. foll. by of) a set of sails, armour, etc.
--v.
1 tr. go well with (a person's figure, features, character, etc.); become.
2 tr. (also absol.) meet the demands or requirements of; satisfy; agree with (does not suit all tastes; that date will suit).
3 tr. make fitting or appropriate; accommodate; adapt (suited his style to his audience).
4 tr. (as suited adj.) appropriate; well-fitted (not suited to be an engineer).
5 intr. (usu. foll. by with) go well with the appearance etc. of a person (red hair suits with her complexion).

Idiom

suit the action to the word carry out a promise or threat at once. suit oneself
1 do as one chooses.
2 find something that satisfies one.

Etymology

ME f. AF siute, OF si(e)ute f. fem. past part. of Rmc sequere (unrecorded) follow: see SUE

THESAURUS

suit

Angelus, Ave, Ave Maria, Hail Mary, Kyrie Eleison, Paternoster, accommodate, accommodate with, accord, accouter, accusal, accusation, accusing, action, adapt, adapt to, addresses, adjuration, adjust, adjust to, agree with, aid prayer, allegation, allegement, amorous pursuit, answer, appeal, application, arraignment, asking, assimilate to, attune, battery, be OK, be guided by, beadroll, beads, become, befit, bend, benefit, beseechment, bib and tucker, bid, bidding prayer, bill of particulars, blame, block, breviary, bringing of charges, bringing to book, business suit, call, canvass, capacitate, caparison, case, casual suit, cause, cause in court, chaplet, charge, check, check out, chime in with, clamor, clothes, clothing, collect, combination, communion, complaint, comply, comply with, compose, condition, conform, conform to, contemplation, correct, correspond, costume, count, court, courting, courtship, cry, delation, denouncement, denunciation, devotions, discipline, disguise, do, do the job, double-breasted suit, dress, enable, enhance, ensemble, entreaty, equip, fall in with, fill the bill, fit, fit out, follow, frock, furnish, gallantry, garb, gear to, gee, go, go by, go with, grace, gratify, habit, harmonize, harmonize with, hit the spot, impeachment, impetration, implication, imploration, imploring, imprecation, imputation, indictment, information, innuendo, insinuation, intercession, invocation, invocatory plea, jibe, judicial process, jump suit, kit, lawsuit, laying of charges, legal action, legal case, legal proceedings, legal process, legal remedy, litany, litigation, livery, make conform, masquerade, meditation, meet, mold, obsecration, observe, obtestation, orison, outfit, pack, petition, plaint, plea, please, prayer, prayer wheel, proceeding, proceedings, process, prosecution, put in trim, put in tune, quadrate, qualify, reconcile, rectify, relate, reproach, request, requesting, riding habit, rig, rig out, rig up, rogation, rosary, rub off corners, satisfy, separates, serenade, series, serve, set, settle, shape, shirtwaist suit, silent prayer, single-breasted suit, ski suit, solicitation, soliciting, sports suit, square, straighten, suffice, suing, suit at law, suite, supplication, tailor, tailored suit, tally, tally with, taxing, thanks, thanksgiving, trial, tropical suit, true bill, tune, turn out, two-piece suit, uniform, unspoken accusation, veiled accusation, wooing, yield

ROGET THESAURUS

suit

Expedience

VB be expedient, suit, befit, suit the time, befit the time, suit the season, befit the season, suit the occasion, befit the occasion, conform.

Agreement

VB be accordant, agree, accord, harmonize, correspond, tally, respond, meet, suit, fit, befit, do, adapt itself to, fall in with, chime in with, square with, quadrate with, consort with, comport with, dovetail, assimilate, fit like a glove, fit to a tittle, fit to a T, match, become one, homologate, consent, render accordant, fit, suit, adapt, accommodate, graduate, adjust, dress, regulate, readjust, accord, harmonize, reconcile, fadge, dovetail, square, be accordant, agree, accord, harmonize, correspond, tally, respond, meet, suit, fit, befit, do, adapt itself to, fall in with, chime in with, square with, quadrate with, consort with, comport with, dovetail, assimilate, fit like a glove, fit to a tittle, fit to a T, match, become one, homologate, consent, render accordant, fit, suit, adapt, accommodate, graduate, adjust, dress, regulate, readjust, accord, harmonize, reconcile, fadge, dovetail, square.

Continuity

N continuity, consecution, consecutiveness, succession, round, suite, progression, series, train chain, catenation, concatenation, scale, gradation, course, ceaselessness, constant flow, unbroken extent, procession, column, retinue, cortege, cavalcade, rank and file, line of battle, array, pedigree, genealogy, lineage, race, ancestry, descent, family, house, line, line of ancestors, strain, rank, file, line, row, range, tier, string, thread, team, suit, colonnade, continuous, continued, consecutive, progressive, gradual, serial, successive, immediate, unbroken, entire, linear, in a line, in a row, uninterrupted, unintermitting, unremitting, unrelenting (perseverence), perennial, evergreen, constant, continuously, seriatim, in a line, in succession, in turn, running, gradually, step by step, gradatim, at a stretch, in file, in column, in single file, in Indian file.

Class

N class, division, category, categorema, head, order, section, department, subdepartment, province, domain, kind, sort, genus, species, variety, family, order, kingdom, race, tribe, caste, sept, clan, breed, type, subtype, kit, sect, set, subset, assortment, feather, kidney, suit, range, gender, sex, kin, manner, description, denomination, designation, rubric, character, stamp predicament, indication, particularization, selection, specification, similarity.

Request

N request, requisition, claim, petition, suit, prayer, begging letter, round robin, motion, overture, application, canvass, address, appeal, apostrophe, imprecation, rogation, proposal, proposition, orison, incantation, mendicancy, asking, begging, postulation, solicitation, invitation, entreaty, importunity, supplication, instance, impetration, imploration, obsecration, obtestation, invocation, interpellation, requesting, precatory, suppliant, supplicant, supplicatory, postulant, obsecratory, importunate, clamorous, urgent, cap in hand, on one's knees, on one's bended knees, on one's marrowbones, prithee, do, please, pray, be so good as, be good enough, have the goodness, vouchsafe, will you, I pray thee, if you please, Int, for God's sake!, for heaven's sake!, for goodness' sake!, for mercy's sake!, Dieu vous garde, dirigenos Domine, would you be so kind as to.

Lawsuit

N lawsuit, suit, action, cause, litigation, suit in law, dispute, citation, arraignment, prosecution, impeachment, accusation, presentment, true bill, indictment, apprehension, arrest, committal, imprisonment, writ, summons, subpoena, latitat, nisi prius, venire, venire facias pleadings, declaration, bill, claim, proces verbal, bill of right, information, corpus delicti, affidavit, state of facts, answer, reply, replication, plea, demurrer, rebutter, rejoinder, surrebutter, surrejoinder, suitor, party to a suit, plaintiff, defendant, litigant, hearing, trial, verdict, appeal, appeal motion, writ of error, certiorari, case, decision, precedent, decided case, reports (legal reference works, see reference books), litigious, qui tam, coram judice, sub judice, pendente lite, adhuc sub judice lis est, accedas ad curiam, transeat in exemplum.

Clothing

N clothing, investment, covering, dress, raiment, drapery, costume, attire, guise, toilet, toilette, trim, habiliment, vesture, vestment, garment, garb, palliament, apparel, wardrobe, wearing apparel, clothes, things, underclothes, array, tailoring, millinery, finery, full dress, garniture, theatrical properties, outfit, equipment, trousseau, uniform, regimentals, continentals, canonicals, livery, gear, harness, turn-out, accouterment, caparison, suit, rigging, trappings, traps, slops, togs, toggery, day wear, night wear, zoot suit, designer clothes, masquerade, dishabille, morning dress, undress, kimono, lungi, shooting-coat, mufti, rags, tatters, old clothes, mourning, weeds, duds, slippers, robe, tunic, paletot, habit, gown, coat, frock, blouse, toga, smock frock, claw coat, hammer coat, Prince Albert coat, sack coat, tuxedo coat, frock coat, dress coat, tail coat, cloak, pall, mantle, mantlet mantua, shawl, pelisse, wrapper, veil, cape, tippet, kirtle, plaid, muffler, comforter, haik, huke, chlamys, mantilla, tabard, housing, horse cloth, burnoose, burnous, roquelaure, houppelande, surcoat, overcoat, great coat, surtout, spencer, mackintosh, waterproof, raincoat, ulster, P-coat, dreadnought, wraprascal, poncho, cardinal, pelerine, barbe, chudder, jubbah, oilskins, pajamas, pilot jacket, talma jacket, vest, jerkin, waistcoat, doublet, camisole, gabardine, farthingale, kilt, jupe, crinoline, bustle, panier, skirt, apron, pinafore, bloomer, bloomers, chaqueta, songtag, tablier, pants, trousers, trowsers, breeches, pantaloons, inexpressibles, overalls, smalls, small clothes, shintiyan, shorts, jockey shorts, boxer shorts, tights, drawers, panties, unmentionables, knickers, knickerbockers, philibeg, fillibeg, pants suit, culottes, jeans, blue jeans, dungarees, denims, Levis, Calvin Klein, Calvins, Bonjour, Gloria Vanderbilt, headdress, headgear, chapeau, crush hat, opera hat, kaffiyeh, sombrero, jam, tam-o-shanter, tarboosh, topi, sola topi, pagri, puggaree, cap, hat, beaver hat, coonskin cap, castor, bonnet, tile, wideawake, billycock, wimple, nightcap, mobcap, skullcap, hood, coif, capote, calash, kerchief, snood, babushka, head, coiffure, crown, chignon, pelt, wig, front, peruke, periwig, caftan, turban, fez, shako, csako, busby, kepi, forage cap, bearskin, baseball cap, fishing hat, helmet, mask, domino, body clothes, linen, hickory shirt, shirt, sark, smock, shift, chemise, night gown, negligee, dressing gown, night shirt, bedgown, sac de nuit, underclothes, underpants, undershirt, slip, brassiere, corset, stays, corsage, corset, corselet, bodice, girdle, stomacher, petticoat, panties, under waistcoat, jock, athletic supporter, jockstrap, sweater, jersey, cardigan, turtleneck, pullover, sweater vest, neckerchief, neckcloth, tie, ruff, collar, cravat, stock, handkerchief, scarf, bib, tucker, boa, cummerbund, rumal, rabat, shoe, pump, boot, slipper, sandal, galoche, galoshes, patten, clog, sneakers, running shoes, hiking boots, high-low, Blucher boot, wellington boot, Hessian boot, jack boot, top boot, Balmoral, arctics, bootee, bootikin, brogan, chaparajos, chavar, chivarras, chivarros, gums, larrigan, rubbers, showshoe, stogy, veldtschoen, legging, buskin, greave, galligaskin, gamache, gamashes, moccasin, gambado, gaiter, spatterdash, brogue, antigropelos, stocking, hose, gaskins, trunk hose, sock, hosiery, glove, gauntlet, mitten, cuff, wristband, sleeve, swaddling cloth, baby linen, layette, ice wool, taffeta, pocket handkerchief, hanky, hankie, clothier, tailor, milliner, costumier, sempstress, snip, dressmaker, habitmaker, breechesmaker, shoemaker, Crispin, friseur, cordwainer, cobbler, hosier, hatter, draper, linen draper, haberdasher, mercer, diaper, nappy, disposable diaper, cloth diaper, Luvs Huggies, invested, habited, dighted, barbed, barded, clad, costume, shod, chausse, en grande tenue, sartorial, the soul of this man is his clothes.

Endearment

N endearment, caress, blandishment, blandiment, panchement, fondling, billing and cooing, dalliance, necking, petting, sporting, sparking, hanky-panky, caressing, embrace, salute, kiss, buss, smack, osculation, deosculation, amorous glances, courtship, wooing, suit, addresses, the soft impeachment, lovemaking, serenading, caterwauling, flirting, flirtation, gallantry, coquetry, true lover's knot, plighted love, love tale, love token, love letter, billet-doux, valentine, honeymoon, Strephon and Chloe, caressing, sighing like furnace, love-sick, spoony, caressed, faint heart neer won fair lady, kisses honeyed by oblivion.