fit
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /fɪt/
rhymes: -ɪt
Forms: form: fitter
form: fittest
Etymology: Possibly from Middle English fit (“an adversary of equal power”), of uncertain further origin. The original sense appears to have been "to marshal or deploy troops", which shifted to "to suit (troops to a certain location" > "suitable", and may be further related to Icelandic fitja (“to web, knit, cast on”).
Senses: examples: text: You have nothing to say about it. I'll do exactly as I see fit.
text: Is it fit to say a king, Thou art wicked?
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 34:18:
text: He had drunk more than was fit for him, and he was singing some light song, when he saw approaching, as he said, the pale horse mentioned in the Revelation, with Death seated as the rider.
ref: 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
text: The rest we'll leave to be examined later, if we think fit;
ref: 2005, Lesley Brown, Sophist, translation of original by Plato, 243d:
text: Sergeant Schlock has no horse, no armor, and no sword, but even the mightiest Mongol horse-warrior would see in him a fit heir.
ref: 2015 February 1, Howard Tayler, Schlock Mercenary, archived from the original on 14 May 2024:
glosses: Suitable; proper
examples: text: survival of the fittest
text: That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in.
ref: c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:
text: Wading through history, he noted that some eugenicists believed that the “distinction between the fit and the unfit could be drawn along racial lines,” and others would define a person as “feeble-minded.”
ref: 2019 May 28, Ariane de Vogue, “Why Clarence Thomas wrote over a dozen pages on eugenics”, in CNN:
glosses: Adapted to a purpose or environment.
examples: text: You don't have to be a good climber for Kilimanjaro, but you do have to be fit.
glosses: In good shape; physically well.
examples: text: I think the girl working in the office is fit.
text: Got my hands down her jeans and I nearly lost half my arm / But after ten pints, she looked quite fit
ref: 1985, “Sweaty Betty”, in Beer & Sex & Chips n Gravy, performed by Macc Lads:
text: I think you are really fit / You're fit but my gosh don't you know it.
ref: 2004, Mike Skinner, “Fit but You Know It”, in A Grand Don't Come for Free, performed by The Streets:
text: I said I'd rather be with your friends, mate, cos they are much fitter.
ref: 2007, “Foundations”, in Kate Nash, Paul Eppworth (lyrics), Made of Bricks, performed by Kate Nash:
glosses: Sexually attractive; good-looking; fanciable.
examples: text: So fit to shoot, she singled forth among her foes who first her quarry's strength should feel.
ref: 1600, [Torquato Tasso], “(please specify |book=1 to 20)”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, →OCLC:
glosses: Prepared; ready.
Derived terms: aquafit
befit
crossfit
fighting fit
fit as a butcher's dog
fit as a fiddle
fit as a flea
fit as a lop
fit as a Mallee bull
fit check
fit for a king
fit for purpose
fitly
fitness
fit note
fitspiration
fitspo
fittie
fit to be tied
fit to burst
fit to kill
fit to wake the dead
hyperfit
keep fit
nonfit
semifit
slim-fit
superfit
unfit
waterfit