size

I. noun Etymology: Middle English sise assize, from Anglo-French, short for assise — more at assize Date: 13th century 1. dialect British assize 2a — usually used in plural 2. obsolete a fixed portion of food or drink 3. a. physical magnitude, extent, or bulk ; relative or proportionate dimensions b. relative aggregate amount or number c. considerable proportions ; bigness 4. one of a series of graduated measures especially of manufactured articles (as of clothing) conventionally identified by numbers or letters <

a size seven hat

> 5. character, quality, or status of a person or thing especially with reference to importance, relative merit, or correspondence to needs <

try this idea on for size

> 6. actual state of affairs <

that's about the size of it

> II. verb (sized; sizing) Date: 1609 transitive verb 1. to make a particular size ; bring to proper or suitable size 2. to arrange, grade, or classify according to size or bulk intransitive verb to equal in size or other particular characteristic ; compare — usually used with up and often with to or with III. adjective Date: 1848 sized — usually used in combination <

bite-size pieces

> IV. noun Etymology: Middle English sise Date: 15th century any of various glutinous materials (as preparations of glue, flour, varnish, or resins) used for filling the pores in surfaces (as of paper, textiles, leather, or plaster) or for applying color or metal leaf (as to book edges or covers) V. transitive verb (sized; sizing) Date: 1667 to cover, stiffen, or glaze with or as if with size