- suit
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I. noun
Etymology: Middle English sute, seute pursuit, retinue, set, legal action, from Anglo-French siute, suite, from Vulgar Latin *sequita, from feminine of *sequitus, past participle of *sequere to follow — more at sue
Date: 14th century
1. archaic suite 1
2.
a. recourse or appeal to a feudal superior for justice or redress
b. an action or process in a court for the recovery of a right or claim
3. an act or instance of suing or seeking by entreaty ; appeal; specifically courtship
4. a group of things forming a unit ; suite — used chiefly of armor, sails, and counters in games
5. a set of garments: as
a. an ensemble of two or more usually matching outer garments (as a jacket, vest, and trousers) <businessmen wearing three-piece suits> b. a costume to be worn for a special purpose or under particular conditions <gym suits> 6. a. all the playing cards in a pack bearing the same symbol b. all the dominoes bearing the same number c. all the cards or counters in a particular suit held by one player <a 5-card suit> d. the suit led <follow suit> 7. slang a business executive — usually used in plural • suited adjective II. verb Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to be becoming to <that dress suits you> b. to be proper for ; befit <a mood that suits the occasion> 2. to outfit with clothes ; dress 3. accommodate, adapt <suit the action to the word> 4. to meet the needs or desires of ; please <suits me fine> intransitive verb 1. to be in accordance ; agree <the position suits with your abilities> 2. to be appropriate or satisfactory <these prices don't suit> 3. to put on specially required clothing (as a uniform or protective garb) — usually used with up <players suiting up for the game>
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.