ppl. a. [f. FIT v. + -ED1.] a. In various senses of the vb.; also fitted up. b. Often used predicatively with the ppl. sense somewhat obscured: Adapted, ‘calculated,’ likely. Const. to with inf.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. Wks. 1874, I. 101. Circumstances peculiarly fitted to be, to them, a state of discipline for their improvement in virtue.
1777. Watson, Philip II. (1793), I. II. 26. How much soever Philip’s power and character were fitted to excite jealousy in the neighbouring states, there were few of them, at this period, in a condition to counteract his designs.
1810. Sporting Mag., XXXVI. July, 156/1. The water was covered with elegantly fitted-up pleasure boats and wherries.
1860. Ure’s Dict. Arts (ed. 5), III. 713. The addition of water would cause the colouring substances to subside, and a white, unicoloured, or fitted soap would be the result.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Fitted Furniture … articles of spare supply, sent from the dockyard.
1888. Times, 26 June, 12/5. Advt., Fitted plate chests.
Hence Fittedness, the state of being fitted.
1611. Collinges, Disc. Liturgies (1661), 77. Let us hear St. Augustin speaking, from whence it will not be hard to judge what the reverend person’s opinion was about the singing then used, and its fittedness to the duty of Christians in praising God.
1645. T. Coleman, Hopes Deferred, 3. There is no fittednesse to receive.
1894. H. Drummond, Ascent of Man, 267–8. Fitness to survive is simply fittedness, and has nothing to do with strength or courage, or intelligence or cunning as such, but only with adjustments as fit or unfit to the world around.
