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. sb. f. *sequĕre to follow, SUE.
The med.L. equivalent of suit in various senses was secta (see SECT sb.1, SET sb.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 (royal, regal), Sc. common suit: Attendance of a person at the sheriff’s court or tourn, attendance at the court-leet.
Phr. to do, give, owe suit.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 11154. Hii clupede sir Ion giffard þat siwte ssolde þer to To come oþer he ssolde in þe merci be ido.
c. 1450. Godstow 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.
c. 1460. Oseney Reg., 10. Soc is sute of your homage in your courte, after the custome of þe Reame.
1473–4. Acc. 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.
1495. Act II Hen. VII., c. 26 § 1. Such inhabitauntes … as owe suyte to the same Toure.
1502. Reg. 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.
1597. Skene, De Verb. Sign., s.v. Sok, Hee quha is oblished to giue Soyte in the Court of his Over-lorde.
1607. Cowell, Interpreter, s.v. Sectis non faciendis, Women that for their dower ought not to performe suite of Court.
1618. J. Wilkinson, Treat. Off. Coroners, etc., II. 77 b. All manner of persons which … owe suit royall to this court Leet.
1651. trans. Kitchin’s Courts Leet (1657), 291. By Tremail it is said, that suit reall is due by reason of the Body.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Suit-real or regal.
1766. Blackstone, Comm., II. 54. To follow, or do suit to, the lord in his courts in time of peace.
1863. H. 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. Þe … Burgese schall make bott ij suttes by þe ȝer’ to þe sayd cowrtt.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 205. All maner of sutes of her Courtes.
c. 1460. Oseney Reg., 37. All maner sutes of Shires and Hundredes.
1508. Reg. Privy Seal Scotl., I. 233. Dischargis him and his saidis landis of all soyttis, comperingis in justice-aris.
1543. trans. Act 52 Hen. III., c. 9. For doyng suites vnto the courtes of great lordes.
1592. in 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.
1459. in A. Laing, Lindores Abbey (1876), xvi. 158. Ye quhylk day ye soytts callit ye curt affirmyt ye absens ar patent.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 46. Judgis war sett and suittis callit sone.
1541. in Rec. Earld. Orkney (S.H.S.), I. 62. With power … Soittis to mak be callit.
c. 1550. Rolland, Crt. Venus, III. 11. Sutis was callit ilk ane in thair estait. Cheisit ane assyis.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot., II. 252. The regent causit feild the parliament and call the suittis.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Crimes, ix. xxviii. 163 b. The soytes suld be first called, with their Lords, and maisters.
2. Suit and service: attendance at court and personal service (see SERVICE1 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.
[c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1080. To lasse & to more, þat ouȝten him omage or ani seute elles.]
c. 1380. Antecrist, in Todd, Three Treat. Wyclif (1851), 147. Bi sute and servyse þat þei [sc. priests] owen to seynes & to chapitres.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 3139. He wolde … make hyme seruece and suytte for his sere londes.
c. 1449. Pecock, 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.
a. 1500. Brome Bk., 157. They may do homage and sewte to my lord.
1504. Munim. de Melros (Bann. Club), 601. That thaj aw na presence nor sute in the serref court of Hadingtoune for the said landis.
1605. Order Keeping Court Leet, 21. Let euery man remember his oath and dutie, and doe his suit and seruices according to the same.
1654. Bramhall, 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.
1773. T. 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.
1776. Dalrymple, Ann. Scotland, 294. As a freeholder of Annandale, Bruce was bound to give suite and presence in the King’s court held at Dumfries.
1820. Gifford, 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.
1824. Scott, Redgauntlet, ch. xviii. At a table above the rest … sat enthroned the youthful Sovereign himself,… receiving the suit and homage of his subjects.
1872. E. 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.)
c. 1585. [R. Browne], Answ. Cartwright, 55. Hee shoulde rather loose his righte, then doe suite and homage to a Traytour.
1589. Greene, 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.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. vii. 34. Then found he many missing of his crew, Which wont doe suit and seruice to his might.
1598. Yong, Diana, 33. By being fauoured in some other place, where thy sutes & seruices may be more esteemed.
1834. De Quincey, Autob. Sk., Wks. 1853, I. 52. I, being a cadet of my house, owed suit and service to him who was its head.
1861. Sat. Rev., 30 Nov., 553. A metropolitan member must, we suppose, do suit and service for his seat.
1881. Manch. 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.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 138. With þe seute of grindinge, & all oþer pertinences. Ibid., 206. Quiet of scuage & sute of here myllys.
1545. in 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.
1591. Knaresb. Wills (Surtees), I. 175. Dareley mylne, with the soken and suite there to belonginge.
1622. [E. Misselden], Free Trade, 58. That restraint of the common liberty, which we call Suit of Mill.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 235. Such is that of doing suit to another’s mill.
1903. Dowden, 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.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., 14 b. I shall … truely do and pay the sutes, customes, rentes, and seruyces that longeth thereto.
1527. MS. Acc. St. John’s Hosp., Canterb. Paid to Hoth Court for rent sute & loke vs. iiijd.
1577. Leigh, 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.
1660. Act 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. Pursuit, chase; also, a pursuit. Phr. to follow, make suit. Fresh suit (see FRESH a. 2 c), pursuit made without delay. Obs.
c. 1325. MS. Rawl. B 520, lf. 32. Be imad so uers siute [orig. Stat. Winch. c. 1 Si fresche sute] þer oppe fram toune to toune.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2392. Lest þe segges wold haue sesed here seute to folwe. Ibid., 2615. & þo þe seute sesed after þe swete bestes.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 373. Thou miht noght make suite and chace, Wher that the game is nought pernable.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. xxiv. (Bodl. MS.). Houndes … findeþ here … dennes and warneþ þereof bi sute and bi berkinge.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, e. v. When he after foode makyth any sute.
1489. N. Riding Rec., N. S. (1894), I. 123. To have shot, sute, or course at any of our game.
1534. Act 26 Hen. VIII., c. 5. Any outcrie, hute, or fresshe sute of or for any felonye.
1575. Gascoigne, Kenelworth, Wks. 1910, II. 93. Though haste say on, let sute obtaine some stay.
1579. Rastell, Expos. Termes Lawes, 95 b. Freshsuit, is when a man is robbed, and the partye so robbed, followeth the felon immediatlye.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. xi. 5. He soone resinde His former suit.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Stat. Dav. II, 49. Gif the suet, or bruit of three baronies follow any man for reif, theift, or any other trespas.
1760–72. H. 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.
1593. Lodge, Phillis (Hunter. Club), 48. Like hungrie houndes that lately lost their suite.
1644. Digby, Nat. Bodies, xxxvii. § 1. 319. Our howndes that follow a suite of bloud.
† 6. The pursuit of an object or quest. Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 409. Man shulde not fayle in þis suyt for god ne for ony creature.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 1. [To be excommunicated] al þat ben ordened to enquere þer-on, ȝif þei leue the sute þerof.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. vii. 10. In der-doing armes, And honours suit. Ibid. (1596), 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).
[a. 1400. Old 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.]
1477. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 187/2. That … no Styward … hold plee uppon any Action, atte sute of any persone.
1512. Act 4 Hen. VIII., c. 4. Preamble, Outlawries had ageynst theym … at the suyt of dyverse maliciouse persones.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VII. (1811), 299. All prysoners that lay in any pryson about London, at the Kynges sute.
1558. T. Watson, Seven Sacr., xxviii. 178. Grudge, hatred, and sute betwene the parties and theyr frendes.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 10. If one giue neuer so small occasion to another, sute must straight be commenced.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., IV. iv. 134. Whose suite is he arrested at?
a. 1676. Hale, Hist. Pleas Crown (1736), II. 280. Tho A. be convict at the king’s suit.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. xix. (Roxb.), 173/2. If … the parties were at suite in the ciuill courts of justice.
1690. W. Walker, Idiomat. Anglo-Lat., 455. I houe a great mind to go to suit.
1766. Blackstone, Comm., II. 437. Till after suit commenced and judgment obtained in a court of law. Ibid. (1768), III. 22. The redress of injuries by suit in courts.
1817. Jas. 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.
1444. Rolls of Parlt., V. 110/1. Without any sute of Writte of errour.
1472. Cov. 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.
1538. Starkey, England, 191. The longe sute of causys in the Court at Westmonastere.
1544. in Leadam, Sel. Cases Crt. Requests (Selden Soc.), 96. Duryng the suete of ther case.
1563. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 251. Compellit to leif the soit of thair saidis caussis.
1607. Cowell, 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.
a. 1513. Fabyan, 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.
1581. in 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.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Andria, IV. v. He is alwaies in sute with some man. He is neuer out of the court.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1687, I. 75. He that doth not wave the prosecution of his cause … is deemed still to be in suit.
1688. R. Holme, 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.
1544. in Leadam, Sel. Cases Crt. Requests (Selden Soc.), 79. For the which Olyuer Seynt John Esquyer hayth Stokeley in sewt at this present tyme.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 1. The kynges grace … pardoned all suche persones, as was then in suite.
1579. Tomson, 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.
1638. Heywood, 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.
1538. Starkey, England (1878), 118. I see many mennys materys heng in sute ii, iij, or iiij yere and more.
1559. Aylmer, Harborowe, G j b. To put that out of doubte which was in sute.
1664. Comenius’ 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).
c. 1618. in Elsing’s Debates Ho. Lords (Camden), App. 140. The said Sr Giles putt the said bonds in suite in the Exchequer.
a. 1680. Charnock, Attrib. God (1834), II. 684. Who hath laid by his bond so many years, without putting it in suits against us.
1760–72. H. 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.
1845. Stephen, 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 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.)
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 1521. Whan þe mater is to ende I-broght Of þe straunger, for whom þe suyte haþ be.
1444. Rolls of Parlt., V. 109/2. Many dyvers persones bi singuler veniance and nothing of right … been by dyvers Suets sued.
1562. Child-Marriages, 71. She comensid a sute, and sekid for a divorce to be had bie the lawe betwixe them.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Guerre, Qui a terre, si, a guerre: Prov., He that hath soyle hath suits.
1676–7. Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 530. The Bill against the Multiplicity of Atturnyes, and for preventing vexatious Suits.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 406. The courts … will allow of amendments at any time while the suit is depending.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, II. 517. To hear and determine summary suits for the rent and occupancy of land.
1888. Bryce, 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 († of or † at law, † at the law) = LAWSUIT. Similarly suit in chancery, equity.
1530. Palsgr., 278/2. Sute at the lawe or court, sieute.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 252. Busily occupied in matters of suites of lawe.
c. 1610. Women Saints, 182. This woman had a suite in law against a principall man of the Cittie of Cæsarea.
1726. Mist’s Weekly Jrnl., 3 Sept. in N. & Q. (1905), 10th Ser. IV. 95/2. On Monday is to be determined a Suit of Law.
1728. Law, Serious C., iii. (1732), 40. These at Suits at Law, those at Gaming Tables.
1817. W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4), II. 1089. A suit in chancery.
1844. Williams, Real Prop. (1877), 93. Actions at law and suits in equity.
† c. To follow a suit: to prosecute a legal action. Also fig. Obs.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades, 705/2. That hee [Jesus] should alwaies appeare there in the presence of God, to followe all our suites faithfully.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Andria, IV. v. For me a stranger to go follow sutes & brabbles in law.
a. 1624. M. Smith, Serm. (1632), 68. The Law containeth matter of inditement against vs, the Deuill followeth the suite.
1631. Rep. Cases Star Chamb. & High Comm. (Camden), 187. That they would graunt her alimonie and charges to follow the suit against him.
11. 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.
1449. Rolls of Parlt., V. 148/2. Savyng alwey to the same Erle of Devonshire, his lawfull suete to the Kyng.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., xi. (1885), 136. To some men he hath done in lyke wyse aboff thair merites, through ymportunite off thair suyttes.
1491. Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 24. An acte was made at the sute of a particuler personne for his particuler cause.
1549–62. Sternhold & H., Ps., Lam. (1566), 23. For mercy Lord is all my sute.
1554. Act 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.
1592. Kyd, Sp. Trag., III. xii. 2. The King sees me, and faine would heare my sute.
1605. Shaks., Lear, II. ii. 68. This ancient Ruffian … whose life I haue spar’d at sute of his gray-beard.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Sutours (Arb.), 41. Priuate Sutes doe Putrifie the Publique Good.
1657. Sparrow, Rationale, 76. When the Priest makes their suits, and they … say, Amen.
1668. R. Steele, Husbandm. Calling, v. (1672), 90. Frozen suits meet with cold answers from God.
1741. Middleton, Cicero (1742), II. vi. 151. When Milo offered to drop his suit for the Consulship.
1814. Scott, Ld. Isles, I. xxx. Rest ye here … Till to our Lord your suit is said.
1838. Arnold, Hist. Rome, I. 78. They had no jurisdiction, but referred all their suits to the king.
1859. Tennyson, 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.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 34. Now no man to me makethe ony sute!
c. 1513. More, 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 ye king, yt she might be restored into such smal landes as [etc.].
1530. Palsgr., 716/2. I sewe, I make sute for a thing, je pourchasse.
1556. Chere, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 19. To favor such poore suts for my Libertie as Mr Dean shall make to your Matie in my behalfe.
1601. [Bp. W. Barlow], Serm. Paules Crosse, 2. As I neuer made sute to preach anywhere.
1649. Davenant, Love & Honour, 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.
1738. Wesley, Ps. xlv. xvi. Kings at his Feet shall cast their crown, And humble Suit for Mercy make.
† c. transf. Earnest search for or endeavor to obtain something. Obs.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem., I. (Arb.), 77. They make great hast to cum to her: they make great sute to serue her.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, VII. i. 552. Corrivall vnto … Sennacherib, in sute for the Monarchie of the world.
a. 1627. Sir 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.
[1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 342. When the Gods coulde not obtaine their desires by suite, they turned them-selues into newe shapes.]
1590. Greene, 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.
c. 1610. Women Saints, 73. Offa receyuing that message, did moste willinglie giue ouer his suite, ceasing to molest the virgin.
a. 1711. Burnet, Autobiog., in H. C. Foxcroft, Suppl. Burnet’s Hist. (1902), 480. After two years sute we were married.
1726. Pope, Odyss., XIX. 164. Rebate your loves, each rival suit suspend.
1775. Sheridan, Duenna, II. iii. Doubtless, that agreeable figure of his must have help’d his suit surprizingly.
1823. Scott, Peveril, xii. If I come to you with my parents’ consent to my suit, will you again say … Julian, we must part?
1854. Tennyson, Aylmer’s Field, 493. Sullen, defiant, pitying, wroth, return’d Leolin’s rejected rivals from their suit.
III. Livery, garb; sort, class.
† 13. 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 color, as the members of a retinue or fraternity; also, in suit with, in the same dress or uniform as. Obs.
1297. R. 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.
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 3. Þe brethren and sustren … shul be cloþed in suyt.
1390. Gower, 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.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 23. Edmunde of Pounteney, now in ȝoure sute I wold þat I were … Wheþer hit were … whyte, rede, or blewe.
c. 1460. Wisdom, in Macro Plays, 60. Here entreth vi women, in sut.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IX. 293. He gert graith him in soit with his awin men.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. IV. (1550), 22 b. Three other appareled in the kynges suite and clothyng.
1588. Lambarde, Eiren., IV. iv. 439. If any company of men … haue made any one generall sute of cloth … to be knowen by.
a. 1633. Austin, Medit. (1635), 104. These Sisters goe all in a Suite…: They are all in Greene.
† b. In or of suit (of a or the same suit): (of clothes, etc.) of one or the same color 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.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Miller’s T., 56. The tapes of hir white voluper Were of the same suyte of hir coler.
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 43. Alle ye bretheren and systeren han a lyuere of sute.
1395. E. E. Wills (1882), 5. With docere, costers and bankers, of sute of that forseyde bed.
1431. Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1904), 26. A white vestement of o sewte.
1433. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 477/1. And the Styward … have … a Robe in sute of the Baylyffs.
1452. in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), I. 337. A gownecloth in sute with his gentilmen.
1558. in 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.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 495. God … þat … in owre sute deydest On godefryday for mannes sake.
1565. T. Stapleton, Fortr. Faith, 92. Any protestant of what so euer cote or sute he be.
1655. Fuller, Church Hist., II. 152. Though men had Surnames, yet their Sons did not, as I may say, follow suit with their Fathers. Ibid. (1661), 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 favor with. Obs.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 3931. Seuene score knyghtes In soyte with theire souerayne.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., I. ii. 258. One out of suites with fortune.
† e. Condition, state. Obs. rare.
1350. Will. 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. color; hence = set (see V).
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 210. Sexty cowpes of suyte.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 3410. A sadill … With a bridell full bright, bothe of a sewte.
1406. E. E. Wills (1882), 13. Ylk man & woman of hem in sute a rynge of xl d.
a. 1423. in Archaeologia, LXI. 171. ij Fiols of on sute of siluer and gild.
1424–5. E. E. Wills (1882), 56. A doseyn spones of too suites.
1444. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), II. 112. ij standing cuppis of a sute. Ibid. (1525), VI. 11. iiij stottes, iij of on sutie [? suite], with on browne stotte.
† 15. Kind, sort, class. Obs.
Common in the 16th c.
1548. Geste, Agst. Priv. Masse, A v. It is a stelth of holye thinges, not of the basest sute … but of the holyest and chiefeste kynde.
1570. Levins, Manip., 178/28. A Soote, of things, genus.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 46. Now gather vp fruite, of euerie suite.
1586. T. Bright, Treat. Mel., iv. 13. The particular nourishment containeth not so many sutes, as the earth the nourisher of all things doth.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., III. iii. § 2. Touching matters belonging vnto the Church of Christ this wee conceiue, that they are not of one sute.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 138. Of this sute also is the carriage of such, as upbraid God.
IV. Following, train, suite.
16. A company of followers; a train, retinue, SUITE. Also, a company of disciples. Now arch. or dial. (superseded by suite).
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3743. Hii of sute were Of king arthures hous.
13[?]. Cursor M., 25668 (Gött.). Leuedi mari!… helpe þi suite.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 225. Crist biddiþ men of his suyt þat þei shulden not have two cootis.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 546. In sound for to saile home & your sute all. Ibid., 12995. The Cite he assailet with a sewte ofte.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. x. (1912), 211. Had there not come in Tydeus & Telenor, with fortie or fiftie in their suit, to the defence of Plexirtus.
1612. T. 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.
1781. J. Moore, View Soc. It. (1790), I. i. 17. Till the Archduke and his suit had passed.
1799. Coleridge, Lett. to Wife, 14 Jan. Any but married women, or in the suit of married women.
1862. Whyte-Melville, Inside the Bar, ix. 345. Servant?… didn’t bring one; don’t want a ‘shoot’ when I’m driving Crafty Kate.
1865. Baring-Gould, Were-wolves, x. 185. A numerous suit of pages, esquires, chaplains.
† b. (a) A leash of hounds. (b) A flight of mallards. Obs.
c. 1470. Hors, Shepe & G. (Roxb.), ad fin. A Sute of a lyhm.
1486. Bk. 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.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. lxvii. The plaintifs sect or suit of witnesses.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 295.
1865. Nichols, trans. 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.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 95. Or þat douhter sute com Malde, þat was of pris.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 559. The bodies of [5 serfs], with all ther catell, sewtis, and sequelis.
c. 1460. Oseney 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.
a. c. 1402. Lydg., Compl. Bl. Knt., 82. The sute of trees aboute compassing Hir shadowe caste.
b. 1424. E. E. Wills (1882), 57. An oþer flat pece [of plate] of þe suit þat were my faders.
1577. Harrison, England, II. x. 85 b. A siluer salte, a bowle for wine … and a dussen of spoones, to furnishe vp the sute.
1615. in W. M. Williams, Ann. Founders’ Co. (1867), 92. Pd for on Sute of Bell Waights compleat 5 12 0.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. III. v. 298. A handsome sute of chaires.
1623. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 143. A rich suite of hangings.
1654. Gayton, Pleas. Notes, III. v. 100. A Missale, six Crucifixes, a sute of Beads.
1686. Plot, Staffordsh., 376. They make them [sc. locks] in Sutes, six, eight, or more in a sute.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 323, ¶ 21. In Conference with my Mantua-Maker. Sorted a Suit of Ribbands.
1737. Salmon’s Cy. Bldr.’s Estimator (ed. 2), 111. These [Locks] are likewise sold in Sute.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), I. 247. A suit of tapestry.
1778. [W. 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.
a. 1817. T. Dwight, Trav. New Eng., etc. (1821), II. 196. A suit of oars.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., viii. A woman … changes her lovers like her suit of ribands.
1845. S. Judd, Margaret, I. ii. There were no suits of knives and forks.
c. 1626. Capt. J. Smith, Accid. Yng. Seamen, 17. A suit of sayles.
1635. in Foster, Crt. Min. E. Ind. Comp. (1907), 114. [To make new sails for his ship, she having only one new] suyte.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. ii. 135. With all the … remnants of old sails that could be mustered, we could only make up one compleat suit.
1851. Kipping, Sailmaking (ed. 2), 91. Making a suit of Sails for a Barque of 300 Tons.
c. 1860. H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 62. The third suit of sails forms the ground tier.
1912. J. Masefield, Dauber, IV. v. in Engl. Rev., Oct., 365.
| He looked aloft. He had once worked aloft, | |
| Shifting her suits one summer afternoon, | |
| In the bright Trade wind, when the wind was soft, | |
| Shaking the points, making the tackle croon. |
d. 1682. Lond. 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.
1779. J. Moore, View Soc. Fr. (1789), I. xxxviii. 330. The most admired of all Holben’s works is a suit of small pieces.
e. 1741. Warburton, Div. Legat., II. 280. A magnificent Palace … with all its Suits of Apartments.
1789. Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, I. 283. The apartments … run in suits like Wanstead house in Essex.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, iii. A whole suit of drawing-rooms.
1858. Eng. Cycl., Biog., s.v. Usher, He took up his residence in a suit of apartments provided for him in the inn.
f. 1845. Encycl. 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. 1845. S. Judd, Margaret, II. i. A suit of enormous black whiskers.
1867. Augusta 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.
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 color and material.
1495. in Somerset Med. Wills (1901), 330. My sewte of blew velwet vestimentes.
1552–3. Inv. Church Goods, Stafford, 2. iiij shutes of vestements to minester withall.
1558. N. Country Wills (Surtees), II. 6. My suyte of red vestementes.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 18 Jan. 1645. One priestly cope, with the whole suite.
c. 1716. in J. O. Payne, Rec. Eng. Cath., 1715 (1889), 105. Vestment suites 12, albs 8, amices 10.
1874. 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, of clothes.
c. 1420. Sir Amadace (Camden), lvi. Say him my sute is quite.
1552–3. in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 89. Five suetes of apparrell.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 51. He hath his chaunge of sutes, yea, he spareth not to go in his silkes and veluet.
1584. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 365. xxxtie ells of sarcenet for fower matachyne sutes.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Masques (Arb.), 540. Let the Sutes of the Masquers, be Gracefull.
1641. Symonds, Serm. bef. Ho. Comm., B ij b. If a man order his Taylor to make him a sute.
1642. in Dict. Commons Rebell. Irel. (1643), 29. The six hundred suits of clothes were for the Souldiers in Ireland.
1683. Wood, Life (O.H.S.), III. 74. To Mr. Spencer the tayler for turning and altering my gray suite … 14s.
1738. Gentl. Mag., VIII. 4/1. One that … doth not put off his Religion with his Sunday’s Suit.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, x. We had on oil-cloth suits and southwester caps.
1877. Spurgeon, Serm., XXIII. 486. You cannot force that little heart to be anxious about the next suit of clothes.
1892. Gunter, Miss Dividends (1893), 93. His light travelling suit.
1897. [see pyjama suit, PYJAMAS b].
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).
1761. Brit. Mag., II. 444. A suit of cloaths is weaving for a lady of quality, which will amount to 36 l. per yard.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch (1879), I. 103/2. The bride was to bring with her only three suits of clothes.
1778. Miss Burney, Evelina, x. They have promised me a compleat suit of linen against the evening.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xiv. Her smartest evening suit.
1913. Play Pictorial, No. 132. p. vi/3. A great variety of linen suits and frocks in exclusive styles.
d. of armor.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxxix. Their suits of leathern and paper armour.
1859. Tennyson, Geraint & Enid, 95. The three gay suits of armour.
1880. [see ARMOUR sb. 1].
e. transf., fig., and allusively.
Birthday suit (humorous): the bare skin.
1593. Drayton, Heroic. Ep., iii. 125. In her Masking Sute, the spangled Skie, Come forth to bride it in her Revelrie.
1607. Rowlands, Diogines Lanthorne, 33. A gallant groue, That wore greene Sommers sute.
1697. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., II. (1709), 105. Like Cloath ill made, he looks better in the Shop, than he wears in the Sute.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Suit and Cloak, good store of Brandy or any agreable Liquor, let down Gutter-lane.
1804. J. Grahame, Sabbath (1839), 8/2. The redbreast’s sober suit.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, I. viii. ¶ 2. I will strip this holy father to his birthday suit.
1858. W. Arnot, Laws fr. Heaven, Ser. II. xlix. 403. If honour be your clothing, the suit will last a life-time.
† f. Grew’s name for the tabular florets (florets of the disk) in composite (and similar) flowers. Obs.
1671. Grew, 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).
20. 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.
1529. Latimer, 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.
1589. Martins 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.
1622. Peacham, Compl. Gentl., vii. 65. I haue seene French Cards to play withall, the foure suites changed into Maps of seuerall Countries.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. xvi. (Roxb.), 73. Fiue cards of a shute.
1742. Hoyle, 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.
1755. Young, 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.
1816. Singer, Hist. Cards, 61. Each Suit consists of nine Cards; the backs are black.
1876. Encycl. Brit., V. 100/1. A pack of tarots consists of seventy-eight cards, four suits of numeral cards and twenty-two emblematic cards.
1876. 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.
1884. Bath Herald, 26 Jan., 3/1. The Government are determined to meet Parliament with a strong suit of trumps in the hand.
1885. Proctor, Whist, iv. 69. Keep the command of an adversary’s suit.
1898. Daily 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.)
1680. Cotton, 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.
1788. J. 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.
1849. Chambers’s Inform. People, II. 663/2. If a person happens not to follow suite, or trump a suite.
1859. Dickens, T. Two Cities, I. ii. The three other horses followed suit. Ibid. (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.
1885. W. 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.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. 6797. Euery day þe blomys wer renewed; And þe blosmys, with many sondri swt.
1589. Puttenham, Engl. Poesie, III. xix. (Arb.), 208. When we make one word begin, and … lead the daunce to many verses in sute.
1625. Bacon, 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.
1451. Yatton Church-w. Acc. (Som. Rec. Soc.), 94. Yn costage to Well for sowte of the churche gods yn two tymes, xviijd.
a. 1652. I. 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.
1797. Mrs. A. 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.
1806. T. Jefferson, Mem., etc. (1829), IV. 56. The legislature had sanctioned that idea…. It seemed, therefore, that the Governor should be in suit with them.
1899. Hardy, 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.: † suit-breeder, a promoter of legal prosecutions; † suit-broker, one who made a business of procuring a favorable bearing for suits; suit-call, at cards, a call for a lead from a particular suit; suit-case, a small portmanteau designed to contain a suit of clothes; † 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 sb.1 1 b), tenure by suit and service to the superior; † suit-jogger, a promoter of lawsuits; † 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-worth a., worthy of imitation.
1691. Shadwell, Scowrers, II. i. Attornys, those *Suit-breeders, those Litigious Rogues.
1632. Massinger, Maid of Hon., II. ii. A *suit-broker in court.
1907. Westm. Gaz., 18 May, 14/1. As to a *suit call, the original lead must never be from a suit that contains a probable trick.
1902. Times, 8 May, 15/1. Captain Clive … sent on his *suit-case and other luggage by another train.
1755. Johnson, *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.
c. 1460. Oseney Reg., 75. Of no *Sute Dewte, by such maner, we shall axe or chalenge of þe forsaide maynye or men.
1556. in Archaeologia, XXXIV. 53. Paid for a *suitt groat at the same time.
1615. MS. Acc. St. John’s Hosp., Canterb. Payd Lordis Rentis … and seut grote.
1864. Wharton, Law-Lex. (ed. 3), 868/2. *Suithold, a tenure in consideration of certain services to the superior lord.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Gt. Eater Kent, Wks. 143/1. Proiect-mongers, *Suit-ioggers, and Stargazers.
1469–70. in 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.
1905. Athenæum, 18 Nov., 683/3. The *suit-marks were possibly coins, cups, bells, and birds.
1532. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., VI. 116. Bringand with thame the *sute roll of thair Sherefdome.
1541. Records 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.
1914. Clouston, 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.
1651. trans. 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.
1870. D. G. Rossetti, Youth’s Spring-tribute, 13. For this Is even the hour of Love’s sworn suitservice.
1598. Marston, Sco. Villanie, X. 164. This fashion-mounger … Contemplates *sute shapes.
1672. Manley, 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.
1594. R. Carew, Tasso, V. 211. If any may *sutewoorth example finde.
