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.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 3575. Shrewes þan on happ sall’ suyt To my body for refuyt.
c. 1540. [see SUITING vbl. sb. 1].
† 2. To prefer a suit; to sue to a person for something. Obs.
1526. Pilgr. 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.
1536. St. Papers Hen. VIII., V. 61. I will never soute … of the King of Scottes, but by the Kinges Highnes meanes here.
1567. in Tytler, Hist. Scot. (1864), III. 247. I am so suited to for to enterprise the revenge.
1641. Cheke’s Hurt Sedit., Life b iv b. Three powerfull competitors all suiting for it.
1679. C. Nesse, Antid. agst. Popery, 90. God loves to be suited unto by saints and angels.
1719. Caldwell 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.
1567. in Tytler, Hist. Scot. (1864), III. 248. The nobility are of mind to suit assistance of the queen.
1573–4. Reg. Privy Council Scot., Ser. I. II. 330. The coistis … and interes sustenit … aucht to be sutit and persewit alsua befoir the saidis Judgeis.
1575. in Maitl. Cl. Misc. (1840), I. 121. He … had humblie suittit … to haue bene admittit to the said celebratioun.
1598. in Row, Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.), 190. It is caried … that the Kirk … should sute vote in Parliament.
1616. W. Haig, in J. Russell, Haigs (1881), vii. 162. Never the boldness … to … suit recompence from your Majesty.
1633. W. Struther, True Happiness, 49. If we had merite to deserve it, we needed not Suit it of God.
1710. in Nairne Peerage Evidence (1874), 44. What else he may suite ask claim and crave. Ibid. (1717), 146. To suit execution hereon.
† 4. To make one’s suit to, petition; to bring a suit against; to sue. Obs.
1559–60. MS. Cott. Calig., B. IX. Then sall they not fayle to sute zow in zour awne countrey.
1566–7. Reg. Privy Council Scot., Ser. I. I. 503. The Quenis Majestie, being ernistlie suitit be the Quene of Inglandis ambassatouris … for payment.
c. 1610. Sir J. Melvil, Mem. (1735), 348. The King of Scotland was suiting her Majesty for an Alliance.
a. 1653. Binning, 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.
c. 1590. Montgomerie, Wks. (S.T.S.), Suppl. Vol. 221. First serve, syne sute,… gif thow intend to win thy ladyis grace.
1639. N. N., trans. Du Bosq’s Compl. Woman, II. 58. Iberina … who had a mind to as many men as suited unto her.
1749. Fielding, 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.
1582. Reg. Privy Council Scot., Ser. I. III. 525. The saidis personis … in lyke maner sutit Johnne Blak,… and wald have brokin up his durris.
c. 1590. J. 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. To pursue, aim at; to seek to obtain. Sc.
1559–60. MS. 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.].
1587. Reg. Privy Council Scot., Ser. I. IV. 197. Minassing and avowing to sute the lyveis of his tennentis.
c. 1590. J. Stewart, Poems (S.T.S.), II. 218. His mercie great … Quhilk gif ȝe sute … Ȝit he vill led ȝow from that haples place.
1686. J. 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.
1615. Brathwait, Loves Labyrinth (1878), 274. Sewing, and suting Thysbe for his bride.
1630. Rutherford, Lett. (1862), I. vii. 53. The Lord, who is suiting you in marriage.
a. 1639. Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scot., II. (1677), 105. He was … sent Ambassador to … the Emperor, to suit his daughter Margaret in marriage.
1676. Row, Contin. Blair’s Autobiog., xii. (1848), 527. Lady Margaret Kennedy had lived a virgin unmarried, (though suited by severals).
† 8. To arrange in a set, sequence or series; to set in due order, sort out. Also with forth. Obs.
1552. in Archæol. Cant. (1872), VIII. 104. Item iij bells in the steple suted.
1554. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Mary (1914), 159. Svting performynge and puttinge the same in aredynes to be engrosed. Ibid. (1571), Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 129. Ffowlding, suting, putting in order and bestowing of the Garmentes.
1586. A. Day, Engl. 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.
1608. Topsell, Serpents, 270. As for separating,… carding, or suting their stuffe, they are very Bunglers.
1655. E. Terry, Voy. East-India, 385. The Company sent the Mogol … an able Coach-man, to sute and mannage some of his excellent Horses.
1695. Blackmore, Pr. Arth., II. 74. He … suits and ranges Natures that agree.
† b. intr. To range oneself. Obs. rare.
1591. Savile, Tacitus, Hist., I. lxiv. 36. As the rest of the souldiers suted on sides.
9. trans. To provide with a suit of clothes; to clothe, attire, dress. Chiefly pass. arch.
1577. Stanyhurst, 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.
1591. Lodge, Catharos, Wks. (Hunter. Club), 11. Shall I sute thee Cosmosophos?… I wil haue thee apparailed according to discipline and order.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., I. ii. 79. How odly he is suited, I thinke he bought his doublet in Italie.
1600. Heywood, 1st Pt. Edw. IV., I. i. Birchin Lane shall suit us.
1604. B. Jonson, King Jas. Entert., A iij. Whereof the one … was suted in blacke and purple.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Cambr. (1662), 161. I will suit you (if so pleased,) with a light habit.
1662. St. George’s Day (1685), 10. All suted in … Satin Gowns, and Velvet Caps.
1829. J. Sterling, Ess., etc. (1848), I. 85. More solemnly suited with black, he was placed in a room hung round with faded green.
1887. Pall 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.
1594. Marlowe & Nashe, Dido, I. i. It is the vse for Turen maides to … suite themselues in purple.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., I. iii. 118. Were it not better … That I did suite me all points like a man?
1607. Rowlands, Fam. Hist., 23. My Armour shall be black! I’le suit me in a mournful Iron-shell.
1624. Heywood, Gunaik., I. 25. Any man that hath bought cloath to suite himself.
1822. W. Jameson, in Mem. & Lett. (1845), 80. One who suits himself only once a year.
c. transf. and fig.
1589. Nashe, Anat. Absurd., Ep. Ded. Fortune … suted poore Flaunders and Fraunce in her frownes, and saluted Englands soule with a smoothed forehead.
1594. J. Dickenson, Arisbas (1878), 30. His Fame … suted in robes of immortalitie,… towres to the clouds.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., cxxvii. My Mistresse eyes [conj. brows] are Rauen blacke, Her eyes so suted, and they mourners seeme.
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., II. 55. Yea, many times he suites His Deity in our poore attributes.
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard T., N. T., 363. Wherefore then, O Saviour, art thou thus suited in crimson and dyed red with blood?
10. 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.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. vii. 81. He … That … therein suites His folly to the mettle of my speech. Ibid. (1602), Ham., III. ii. 19. Sute the Action to the Word, the Word to the Action.
1610. Heywood, Gold. Age, II. i. Oh sute your pitty with your Angell-beauty.
1621. Quarles, Div. Poems, Esther (1630), 121. The King commands the servants of his State, To suite respect to Hamans high estate.
1711. Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), I. 200. He … sutes himself … to the fancy of his reader.
1781. Cowper, Charity, 153. To suit His manners with his fate, [he] puts on the brute.
1787. Best, Angling (ed. 2), 90. When you make the palmer-fly suit the colour of the silk to the hackle you dub with.
1831. Scott, Cast. Dang., viii. [They] took care to suit their answers to the questions put to them.
1844. Kinglake, Eöthen, xvii. The peculiar way in which you are obliged to suit yourself to the movements of the beast [sc. a camel].
1865. Dickens, 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.
1874. Mahaffy, 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.)
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. v. 70. O deare discretion, how his words are suted.
c. 1605. Rowley, Birth Merl., I. i. Provided My Daughters love be suited with my grant.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XXIII. 417. Your words are suited to your eyes.
1771. Junius Lett., lxiii. (1788), 334. Both the law and the language are well suited to a Barrister!
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxxviii. I ceased to consider either courts, or court-intrigues, as suited to my temper or genius.
1837. Goring & Pritchard, Microgr., 210. They will soon … thrust themselves into situations of restraint well suited for the purpose.
1874. Green, 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.
1607. Tourneur, Rev. Trag., III. v. Hee’s suted for a Lady.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 45. God … sutes the one with willingnesse to be holpen, and the other with readiness to helpe.
1782. Cowper, Gilpin, 58. ’Twas long before the customers Were suited to their mind.
1837. Hood, Hymen. Retrosp., II. iv.
| Cook, by the way, came up to-day, | |
| To bid me suit myself. |
1848. Dickens, Dombey, ii. I hope you are suited, my dear.
1852. Thackeray, 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. To be agreeable or convenient to (a person, his inclinations, etc.); to fall in with the views or wishes of.
a. 1578. Lindesay (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.
a. 1595. Satir. Poems Reform., xvii. 22. Quhat plesis them, the same the pepill suittis.
1719. Caldwell Papers (Maitl. Club), I. 238. Either to answer or not, as best suits your conveniency.
1779. Mirror, No. 34. That sort of promise which a man keeps when the thing suits his inclination.
1786. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), II. 3. It is only to keep alive pretensions which may authorize the commencement of hostilities when it shall suit them.
1812. Byron, Ch. Har., I. iii. But whence his name And lineage long, it suits me not to say.
1889. J. K. Jerome, Three Men in Boat, 17. Harris said that the river would suit him to a ‘T.’
1894. Hall Caine, Manxman, III. xix. 190. Then came the change of the day to suit his supposed convenience.
14. To be fitted or adapted to, be suitable for, answer the requirements of.
1603. J. Davies, Microcosmos, Wks. (Grosart), I. 77/2. What is ’t On Earth that she thinks (be’ng so superfine) Worthie to suite her, but alone to reigne?
1650. Sir W. Mure, Cry Blood, 509. Tears sute the season.
1692. Locke, 3rd Lett. 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.
1733. Pope, Ess. Man, III. 80. All enjoy that pow’r which suits them best.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 106. The Sofa suits The gouty limb.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 650. The sort which he knows will suit the soil and situation of his land.
1855. Macaulay, 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.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 591. His own explanation did not suit all phenomena.
1891. Speaker, 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 favorable to the health of (a person).
1814. Scott, Diary, 16 Aug., in Lockhart. The wet and boggy walk not suiting his gout.
1861. B’ness Bunsen, in Hare, Life (1879), II. v. 289. It does not suit my eyes to employ them by candlelight.
1882. Med. Temp. Jrnl., I. 128. What suits us we think ought to suit … other people.
c. To be becoming to.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, xxxv. It suits not our condition to hold with thee long communication.
1872. Geo. Eliot, Middlem., i. Souls have complexions too; what will suit one will not suit another.
1884. G. Allen, Philistia, II. 5. It suits your complexion admirably.
† 15. intr. To agree together. Obs.
1630. Prynne, Anti-Armin., 182. They all accord and fitly suite together in one intiretie.
16. To be suitable, fitting or convenient.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xiv. If opportunity suits.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Passion & Princ., ii. That’s well, Sir,… that will suit well.
1847. Tennyson, Princ., Concl. 9. What style could suit?
1865. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., III. 269. Say Saturday; if that does not suit there will be time to tell me.
17. Const. preps. a. To suit with: to agree, harmonize or fit in with; to be suitable to; occas. to match in color, etc. Obs. or arch.
1605. Shaks., 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.
1611. A. Stafford, Niobe, 108. He … sees that the Court is not a place suting with his disposition.
1655. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 59/1. Tzetzes affirms he was Master to Thales, but that suits not with their times.
1677. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., i. 15. But of that in its proper place, because it suits not with this Section of Filing.
1681. Dryden, Abs. & Achit., 478. This Advice above the rest With Absalom’s Mild Nature suited best.
1719. De 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.
1751. Eliza Heywood, Betsy Thoughtless, I. 213. That she should be glad to see him, whenever it suited with his convenience.
1785. Crabbe, Newspaper, 2. A busy, bustling time, Suits ill with writers, very ill with rhyme.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xxviii. His walking-dress … had so much of a military character as suited not amiss with his having such a weapon.
1853. Miss 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.
1859. Habits 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.
1632. Sir T. Hawkins, trans. Mathieu’s Unhappy Prosperitie, 241. Time cooperateth with his industry, and fortune sutes to his vigilance.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 211. Her [sc. the dodo’s] legs suting to her body.
1653. H. More, Antid. Ath., II. xii. § 1. If I should pursue all that suits to my purpose it would amount to an intire Volume.
1690. T. Burnet, Review Theory Earth, 29, note. A Text, that does not suit to their own Notions.
a. 1700. Dryden, Sigism. & Guisc., 44. She cast her Eyes around the Court, to find A worthy Subject suiting to her Mind.
1802–12. Bentham, 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.
1647. N. 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.
a. 1660. Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.), I. 176. Taaffe was comaunded by the Councell, (as … sutinge to their factious principles) to marche with his armie.
