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”).
Meanings
Suitable; proper
Is it fit to say a king, Thou art wicked? 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 34:18:
The rest we'll leave to be examined later, if we think fit; 2005, Lesley Brown, Sophist, translation of original by Plato, 243d:
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. 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
You have nothing to say about it. I'll do exactly as I see fit.
Sergeant Schlock has no horse, no armor, and no sword, but even the mightiest Mongol horse-warrior would see in him a fit heir. 2015 February 1, Howard Tayler, Schlock Mercenary, archived from the original on 14 May 2024:
Adapted to a purpose or environment.
survival of the fittest
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.” 2019 May 28, Ariane de Vogue, “Why Clarence Thomas wrote over a dozen pages on eugenics”, in CNN:
That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in. 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]:
In good shape; physically well.
Even the fittest among us may have problems, because hypertension can be genetic or stem from kidney problems or sleep apnea, and the risk typically increases with age. 2026, Ginny Graves, “The Most Important Health Metric You're Not Tracking”, in Men's Health, volume 41, number 2, page 19:
You don't have to be a good climber for Kilimanjaro, but you do have to be fit.
I said I'd rather be with your friends, mate, cos they are much fitter. 2007, “Foundations”, in Kate Nash, Paul Eppworth (lyrics), Made of Bricks, performed by Kate Nash:
I think you are really fit / You're fit but my gosh don't you know it. 2004, Mike Skinner, “Fit but You Know It”, in A Grand Don't Come for Free, performed by The Streets:
Got my hands down her jeans and I nearly lost half my arm / But after ten pints, she looked quite fit 1985, “Sweaty Betty”, in Beer & Sex & Chips n Gravy, performed by Macc Lads:
(obsolete) Prepared; ready.
So fit to shoot, she singled forth among her foes who first her quarry's strength should feel. 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:
sv lämplig (suitable, proper) · fi sovelias (suitable, proper) · id tepat (in good shape) · hu alkalmas (suitable, proper) · pt apropriado (suitable, proper) · sv i trim (in good shape) · nl passend (suitable, proper) · hil dápat (suitable, proper) · nl aangepast (adapted to a purpose or environment) · it rispondente (suitable, proper) · el ικανός (adapted to a purpose or environment) · got 𐌲𐌰𐍄𐌹𐌻𐍃 (suitable, proper) · ia in forma (in good shape) · hu rátermett (adapted to a purpose or environment) · lv atbilstīgs (suitable, proper) · fi korrekti (suitable, proper) · no deilig (good-looking (female)) · be адпаве́дны (suitable, proper) · it indicato (suitable, proper) · id sesuai (in good shape) · sv läcker (good-looking (female)) · pt gata (good-looking (female)) · pt apto (adapted to a purpose or environment) · fr convenable (suitable, proper) · es en condiciones de (in good shape) · id serasi (in good shape) · ca adequat (suitable, proper) · hy պիտանի (suitable, proper) · la idōneus (suitable, proper) · uk відпові́дний (suitable, proper) · es idóneo (suitable, proper) · de in Form (in good shape) · ja 別嬪 (good-looking (female)) · fi tarkoituksenmukainen (adapted to a purpose or environment) · el υγιής (in good shape) · da i form (in good shape) · fi sopiva (suitable, proper) · lv vingrs (in good shape) · ja 適切 (in good shape) · ja 美人 (good-looking (female)) · es aparejado (suitable, proper) · hu egészséges (in good shape) · id pas (in good shape) · fi sopiva (adapted to a purpose or environment) · it fica (good-looking (female)) · it appropriato (suitable, proper) · fi siisti (good-looking (female)) · fa فیت (in good shape) · ja 合う (in good shape) · ja 似合う (in good shape) · id fit (in good shape) · lv atbilstošs (suitable, proper) · mi whiti (in good shape) · hu jó erőben lévő (in good shape) · ru в хоро́шей фо́рме (in good shape) · hu fitt (in good shape) · sv beredd (prepared, ready) · bg в добра́ фо́рма (in good shape) · fi hyvännäköinen (good-looking (female)) · fr adapté (adapted to a purpose or environment) · da passende (suitable, proper) · sv i form (in good shape) · ja 適する (in good shape) · fr adapté (suitable, proper) · ga álainn (good-looking (female)) · de fit (in good shape) · fr approprié (suitable, proper) · id sehat (in good shape) · hu életrevaló (adapted to a purpose or environment) · fr apte (adapted to a purpose or environment) · sv lämpad (suitable, proper) · de sexy (good-looking (female)) · ru соотве́тствующий (suitable, proper) · la habilis (suitable, proper) · id cocok (in good shape) · it confacente (suitable, proper) · it in forma (in good shape) · de scharf (good-looking (female)) · nl fit (in good shape) · pt em forma (in good shape) · uk підходя́щий (suitable, proper) · de heiß (good-looking (female)) · ota راست (suitable, proper) · cs vhodný (suitable, proper) · da tilpasset (adapted to a purpose or environment) · fr correct (suitable, proper) · hu alkalmas (adapted to a purpose or environment) · hu talpraesett (adapted to a purpose or environment) · cmn 合適 /合适 (suitable, proper) · ja 健康 (in good shape) · nrf frîngant (in good shape) · es apolíneo (in good shape) · la aptus (suitable, proper) · ga infheidhme (in good shape) · sv redo (prepared, ready) · sv förberedd (prepared, ready) · hu megfelelő (suitable, proper) · ga dathúil (good-looking (female)) · fi valmis (prepared, ready) · ja 元気 (in good shape) · fr canon (good-looking (female)) · sv snygg (good-looking (female)) · bg съотве́тен (suitable, proper) · it adatto (suitable, proper) · fi kunnossa (in good shape) · hu vonzó (good-looking (female)) · bg подходя́щ (suitable, proper) · hu szívdöglesztő (good-looking (female)) · it figa (good-looking (female)) · it idoneo (suitable, proper) · hu dögös (good-looking (female)) · fi timmi (in good shape) · ga réidh (prepared, ready) · eo taŭga (suitable, proper) · hu jó erőnlétű (in good shape) · id segar bugar (in good shape) · sv passande (suitable, proper) · ga oiriúnach (suitable, proper) · de durchtrainiert (in good shape) · sv rustad (prepared, ready) · gv cooie (suitable, proper) · ca apte (adapted to a purpose or environment) · el κατάλληλος (suitable, proper) · fi sopeutunut (adapted to a purpose or environment) · ru подходя́щий (suitable, proper) · hy պատշաճ (suitable, proper) · fr en bonne forme (in good shape) · fi hyväkuntoinen (in good shape) · lv piemērots (suitable, proper)
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”).
Meanings
The degree to which something fits.
This shirt is a bad fit.
Since he put on weight, his jeans have been a tight fit.
Conformity of elements one to another.
It's hard to get a good fit using second-hand parts.
The part of an object upon which anything fits tightly.
Measure of how well a particular commercial execution captures the character or values of a brand.
The Wonder Bread advertising research results showed the “White Picket Fence” commercial had strong fit ratings.
Goodness of fit.
The quality of a partnership's combined holding of cards in a suit, particularly of trump.
During the auction, it is often a partnership's goal to find an eight-card major suit fit.
fi sopia (degree to which something fits) · da pasform (degree to which something fits) · nb passform (degree to which something fits) · nl pasvorm (degree to which something fits) · sv passform (degree to which something fits) · ko 핏 (degree to which something fits) · fi yhteensopivuus (conformity of elements one to another) · fi yhteensopivuus (advertising: measure of how well a commercial captures the character or values of a brand) · nn passform (degree to which something fits) · fi fitti (bridge: quality of a partnership's combined holding of cards) · fi yhteensopivuus (statistics: goodness of fit) · fi yhteensopivuus (bridge: quality of a partnership's combined holding of cards) · es ajuste (degree to which something fits) · fi sovite (part of an object upon which anything fits tightly) · de Passform (degree to which something fits) · pl dopasowanie (degree to which something fits) · grc ἁρμογή (part of an object upon which anything fits tightly) · ja フィット (degree to which something fits)
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”).
Meanings
(transitive) To be suitable for.
The speaker should be certain that his subject fits the occasion. 1918, Richard Dennis Teall Hollister, Speech-making, publ. George Wahr, pg. 81
It fits the purpose.
(ambitransitive) To have sufficient space available at some location to be able to be there.
The elevator can fit up to 10 people.
Ten clowns fit in the car, but not a hundred.
(transitive) To conform to in size and shape.
The small shirt doesn't fit me, so I'll buy the medium size.
If I lose a few kilos, the gorgeous wedding dress might fit me.
(intransitive) To be of the right size and shape
That plug fit into the other socket, but it won't go in this one.
I wanted to borrow my little sister's jeans, but they didn't fit.
She's changed the lock on our front door / My door key don't fit no more 1947, “Move It On Over”, performed by Hank Williams:
Even though in a way you let him freeze to death in the water, because the way I see it... / I agree. Y'know, I think he actually could have fitted on that bit of door. / There was plenty of room on the raft. / I know. I know, I know. 2016 February 2, Kate Winslet et al., Jimmy Kimmel Live!:
I know the pieces fit / 'Cause I watched them fall away 2001, “Schism”, in Maynard James Keenan (lyrics), Adam Jones, Danny Carey, Maynard James Keenan, and Justin Chancellor (music), Lateralus, performed by Tool, track 5:
(transitive, with to) To make conform in size and shape.
I want to fit the drapes to the windows.
(transitive, with to) To make conform in size and shape. ▸ To tailor; to change to the appropriate size.
I had a suit fitted by the tailor.
(transitive) To be in agreement with.
Type D half-lines ending in words of this type are analysed by Hutcheson as ending in two completely unstressed syllables. That analysis must be descriptively correct for, say, the 10th cent.; whether it would have fitted the facts in the 8th cent. is much less clear. 2004 October 14, Don Ringe, “Old English maþelian, mæþlan, mǣlan”, in J. H. W. Penney, editor, Indo-European Perspectives: Studies in Honour of Anna Morpurgo Davies, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 427:
These definitions fit most of the usage.
(transitive) To adjust.
The regression program fit a line to the data.
(transitive) To attach, especially when requiring exact positioning or sizing.
Williams had a problem fitting his left rear tyre and that left Alonso only 3.1secs adrift when he rejoined from his final stop three laps later. 2012 May 13, Andrew Benson, “Williams's Pastor Maldonado takes landmark Spanish Grand Prix win”, in BBC Sport:
(transitive) To equip or supply.
The chandler will fit us with provisions for a month.
(transitive) To make ready.
Thirty years ago, if a girl wished for training, there was none to be had. I can truly say there was no training to be had to fit a woman thoroughly for any life whatever. 1871, Florence Nightingale, Una and the Lion, page 12:
I’m fitting to go home and sleep.
I’m fitting the ship for a summer sail home.
'I am fitting to go to South Hadley Seminary [as Mount Holyoke was known], and expect if my health is good to enter that institution a year from next fall', she confided to Abiah. 1846, Lyndall Gordon, quoting Emily Dickinson, letter, quoted in Lives Like Loaded Guns: Emily Dickinson and Her Family's Feuds, published 2010:
(archaic, intransitive) To be seemly.
To be proper or becoming.
Nor fits it to prolong the heav'nly feast. 1725, Homer, “Book III”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume I, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC:
bg съотве́тствам (to conform to in size and shape) · grc ἀραρίσκω (to attach) · az düz gəlmək (to have right size and shape) · izh mukahua (to conform to in size and shape) · hu passzol (to be suitable for) · bgc नावड़ना (to have sufficient space available) · ar نَاسَبَ (to conform to in size and shape) · el κάνω (to conform to in size and shape) · mi ō (to have sufficient space available) · hu befér (to have sufficient space available) · es concuasar (to have right size and shape) · bg подхо́дя (to conform to in size and shape) · es casar (to have right size and shape) · fi sopia (to be in harmony) · es ahormar (to tailor) · grc πρέπω (to be suitable for) · el ταιριάζω (to be in agreement with) · ca cabre (to conform to in size and shape) · cmn 合適 /合适 (to conform to in size and shape) · uk підхо́дити (to conform to in size and shape) · cs vejít se (to conform to in size and shape) · eo alfari (to tailor) · es casar (to conform to in size and shape) · eo taŭgi (to be suitable for) · pt servir (em) (to conform to in size and shape) · sv passa (to conform to in size and shape) · pt ajustar (to tailor) · eu egokitu (to make conform in size and shape) · hu illik (to be suitable for) · sv passa (to be suitable for) · fi räätälöidä (to tailor) · fr rentrer (to have sufficient space available) · hu igazít (to tailor) · fi sopia (to be in agreement with) · fi rukata (to make conform in size and shape) · nn passe (to have right size and shape) · tr uymak (to have right size and shape) · cmn 適合 /适合 (to conform to in size and shape) · nl passen (to conform to in size and shape) · az lazım olmaq (to be suitable for) · hy սազել (to have right size and shape) · fr fitter (to make conform in size and shape) · ja 合う (to conform to in size and shape) · fr être approprié (to be suitable for) · es ficar (to have right size and shape) · it andare bene (to have right size and shape) · uk підганя́ти (to tailor) · nl aanpassen (to tailor) · ja 適する (to have right size and shape) · fr être adapté (to conform to in size and shape) · hu ráillik (to be in agreement with) · km ក្លឹប (to conform to in size and shape) · uk підхо́дити (to have right size and shape) · grc ἁρμόζω (to conform to in size and shape) · sv få plats (to have sufficient space available) · uk підійти́ (to conform to in size and shape) · el ταιριάζω (to make conform in size and shape) · pt servir (to be suitable for) · km ឃ្លិប (to conform to in size and shape) · bg нага́ждам (to make conform in size and shape) · de passen (to conform to in size and shape) · id menyesuaikan (to have right size and shape) · fi toimittaa (to equip or supply) · ar لَاقَ (to be suitable for) · az əyninə olmaq (to have right size and shape) · ru подойти́ (to be suitable for) · da tilpasse (to tailor) · mi pai (to be suitable for) · az münasib olmaq (to be suitable for) · eu egokitu (to conform to in size and shape) · bg екипи́рам (to equip or supply) · it starci (to conform to in size and shape) · lv derēt (to have right size and shape) · nl passen (to have right size and shape) · ga oiriúnaigh (to make conform in size and shape) · hu hozzáigazít (to tailor) · ia vader ben a (to conform to in size and shape) · yi פּאַסן (to conform to in size and shape) · bg съгласу́вам се (to be in agreement with) · bg монти́рам (to attach) · hu fér (to have sufficient space available) · fi käydä (to conform to in size and shape) · ru подходи́ть (to conform to in size and shape) · ta கொள் (to conform to in size and shape) · fi passata (to be suitable for) · ro încăpea (to have sufficient space available) · pt encaixar (to make conform in size and shape) · be падысці́ (to be suitable for) · hu testre szab (to tailor) · rup ncap (to conform to in size and shape) · grc ἀραρίσκω (to make conform in size and shape) · mi arotau (to be suitable for) · nan-hbl kah (to be suitable for) · gl acaer (to have right size and shape) · de passen (to tailor) · id mempaskan (to have right size and shape) · fr être approprié (to conform to in size and shape) · bg подхо́ждам (to conform to in size and shape) · fi sopia (to be suitable for) · nn passe (to tailor) · uk підхо́дити (to be suitable for) · fr ajuster (to make conform in size and shape) · vi thích hợp (to conform to in size and shape) · uk підійти́ (to be suitable for) · ru соотве́тствовать (to conform to in size and shape) · pt caber (to have sufficient space available) · bg подхо́дя (to be suitable for) · km ក្លំ (to conform to in size and shape) · az uyğun olmaq (to be suitable for) · pt combinar (to be in harmony) · mi reretahi (to be in harmony) · pt afixar (to attach) · uk відповіда́ти (to conform to in size and shape) · cmn 適應 /适应 (to tailor) · sv skräddarsy (to tailor) · az əyninə biçilmək (to have right size and shape) · hy համապատասխանել (to conform to in size and shape) · ru быть впо́ру (to have right size and shape) · km សម (to be suitable for) · da passe sammen (to conform to in size and shape) · ar نَاسَبَ (to have right size and shape) · ru помеща́ться (to have sufficient space available) · fr convenir (to be suitable for) · pdc aabasse (to make conform in size and shape) · fi sopia (to have right size and shape) · hy բռնել (to conform to in size and shape) · ja 合う (to have right size and shape) · lv sakrist (to conform to in size and shape) · pdc aabasse (to tailor) · nb passe (to conform to in size and shape) · ru прила́живать (to tailor) · fr aller (to conform to in size and shape) · pt caber (to have right size and shape) · sv passa (to have right size and shape) · id adjustar (to tailor) · it andare bene (to conform to in size and shape) · ca encaixar (to conform to in size and shape) · da passe til (to have right size and shape) · hy սազել (to conform to in size and shape) · uk вписа́тися (to be in harmony) · hu illeszt (to make conform in size and shape) · fa سزیدن (to be suitable for) · it aggiustare (to tailor) · fr adapter (to make conform in size and shape) · el ταιριάζω (to have right size and shape) · fi varustaa (to equip or supply) · be падыхо́дзіць (to conform to in size and shape) · de passen (to be suitable for) · el προσαρμόζω (to make conform in size and shape) · ca cabre (to be suitable for) · es hacer juego (to be in harmony) · ja 合わせる (to conform to in size and shape) · fr convenir (to conform to in size and shape) · ro încăpea (to conform to in size and shape) · fr être adapté (to be suitable for) · az müvafiq olmaq (to be suitable for) · el προμηθεύω (to equip or supply) · pt caber (em) (to conform to in size and shape) · es caber (to conform to in size and shape) · el ταιριάζω (to be suitable for) · de passen (to have right size and shape) · ru приспоса́бливать (to tailor) · hu illeszkedik (to conform to in size and shape) · cs padnout (to have right size and shape) · gd freagair do/ri/air (to conform to in size and shape) · es quedar (to have right size and shape) · grc ἁρμόζω (to make conform in size and shape) · cs sedět (to have right size and shape) · nb passe (to tailor) · ru подходи́ть (to have right size and shape) · hu illik (to be in agreement with) · ru подходи́ть (to be suitable for) · fr ajuster (to tailor) · bg подхо́ждам (to be suitable for) · be падысці́ (to conform to in size and shape) · id mencocokkan (to have right size and shape) · mi haratau (to be suitable for) · it soddisfare (to be suitable for) · ru подойти́ (to conform to in size and shape) · cmn 合適 /合适 (to have right size and shape) · be падыхо́дзіць (to be suitable for) · da montere (to attach) · tr uydurmak (to tailor) · ru помести́ться (to have sufficient space available) · mi ō (to conform to in size and shape) · ast abigorniar (to tailor) · hu illeszkedik (to be in agreement with) · cmn 適合 /适合 (to have right size and shape) · ar لَاقَ (to make conform in size and shape) · es encajar (to have right size and shape) · sv prova ut (to tailor) · eo adapti (to make conform in size and shape) · hu belefér (to have sufficient space available) · az yararlı olmaq (to be suitable for) · fi sovittaa (to make conform in size and shape) · fi käydä (to be suitable for) · grc ἐφαρμόζω (to make conform in size and shape) · tr uymak (to conform to in size and shape) · es encajar (to conform to in size and shape) · eo alfari (to make conform in size and shape) · hu hozzáilleszt (to make conform in size and shape) · ar لَاقَ (to conform to in size and shape) · ru подгоня́ть (to tailor) · ja 適合する (to conform to in size and shape) · hu megfelel (to be suitable for) · de passen (to have sufficient space available) · fi sovittaa (to attach) · fi sopia (to conform to in size and shape) · he התאים (to have right size and shape) · pl pasować (to conform to in size and shape) · gl acaer (to be in harmony) · fi räätälöidä (to make conform in size and shape) · hu alakít (to tailor) · bg ста́вам (to have right size and shape) · az yaramaq (to be suitable for) · he התאים (to tailor) · uk впи́суватися (to be in harmony) · pt adaptar (to make conform in size and shape) · hy սազեցնել (to tailor) · bg сла́гам (to attach) · mi tōtika (to be suitable for) · pl pasować (to be suitable for) · el προσαρμόζω (to attach) · it adattare (to make conform in size and shape) · vi vừa (to conform to in size and shape) · ga oiriúnaigh (to conform to in size and shape) · el ταιριάζω (to be in harmony) · hu jó rá (to conform to in size and shape) · hu beleilleszt (to make conform in size and shape) · gd freagair do/ri/air (to have right size and shape) · nn passe (to conform to in size and shape) · he התאים (to conform to in size and shape) · nb passe (to have right size and shape) · got 𐌳𐌿𐌲𐌰𐌽 (to be suitable for) · az düz gəlmək (to be suitable for) · be адпавяда́ць (to conform to in size and shape)
Unknown, possibly from Old English fitt (“song”), or from the sense of fitted to length. Compare Old Saxon *fittea (attested in the borrowed Latin vittea).
Meanings
(archaic) A section of a poem or ballad.
Dr. Percy has written a long ballad in many fits. 1771, Samuel Johnson, "Letter to Bennet Langton, Esq. (March 20)," in James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), vol 2
Unknown. From Middle English fit (“hardship, danger”), possibly from Old English fitt (“conflict”)—a word only attested once. Compare Cornish fit (“game match, bout”); or else, maybe cognate with Italian fitta (“sudden and stabbing pain”) (see further at Latin fīgere).
Meanings
A seizure or convulsion.
My grandfather died after having a fit.
A sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom over a short period of time.
A sudden outburst of emotion.
He had a laughing fit which lasted more than ten minutes.
He threw a fit (of temper) when his car broke down.
She had a fit and threw all of his clothes out through the window.
A sudden burst (of an activity).
A fit of spring-cleaning led Eric Brooks to a box of old newspaper clips from 1997. 2007 July 9, Ryan J. Foley, “Wisconsin city's largest employer threatens to leave over ethanol”, in Associated Press:
el παροξυσμός (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · sv anfall (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · te మూర్చ (seizure) · de Anfall (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · es arrebato (sudden outburst of emotion) · nv iichʼąh (seizure) · es arrechucho (sudden outburst of emotion) · es arrebatamiento (sudden outburst of emotion) · fr crise (sudden outburst of emotion) · sv utbrott (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · ga taom (sudden outburst of emotion) · hu roham (seizure) · ru припа́док (seizure) · de Anfall (sudden outburst of emotion) · hi मिर्गी (seizure) · ru поры́в (sudden outburst of emotion) · pdt Aunfaul (seizure) · nv ashchʼąh (seizure) · es acaloramiento (sudden outburst of emotion) · nb anfall (seizure) · fi kohtaus (seizure) · ota نوبت (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · de Anfall (seizure) · es ramalazo (sudden outburst of emotion) · ru при́ступ (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · pt convulsão (seizure) · hu roham (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · he הֶתְקֵף (seizure) · ur مرگی (seizure) · he קְרִיזָה (sudden outburst of emotion) · sv attack (sudden outburst of emotion) · hy նոպա (seizure) · hu dühroham (sudden outburst of emotion) · da slagtilfælde (seizure) · es acceso (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · be пры́ступ (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · el σπασμός (seizure) · pt crise (sudden outburst of emotion) · sv utbrott (seizure) · bg припа́дък (seizure) · cy pwl (sudden outburst of emotion) · uk при́ступ (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · cy pwl (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · sv skov (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · ga taom (seizure) · es ataque (seizure) · fi kouristus (convulsion) (seizure) · be прыпа́дак (seizure) · es convulsión (seizure) · sw degedege (seizure) · es arrebato (seizure) · pt crise (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · sv anfall (seizure) · bg по́рив (sudden outburst of emotion) · hu kitörés (sudden outburst of emotion) · sv utbrott (sudden outburst of emotion) · el κρίση (seizure) · el ξέσπασμα (sudden outburst of emotion) · lv lēkme (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · fi sairaskohtaus (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · pt ataque (sudden outburst of emotion) · nn anfall (seizure) · hu epizód (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · pt piti (sudden outburst of emotion) · cy pwl (seizure) · fi kohtaus (sudden outburst of emotion) · fr crise (seizure) · hu görcs (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · sv anfall (sudden outburst of emotion) · uk при́падок (seizure) · ga taom (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · pt ataque (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · fi kohtaus (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · hy նոպա (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · lv lēkme (seizure) · fi puuska (sudden outburst of emotion) · es tos convulsa / convulsiva (seizure) · he הֶתְקֵף (sudden outburst of emotion) · pdt Aunfaul (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · uk припа́док (seizure) · hi दौरा (seizure) · fr accès (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom) · bg при́стъп (sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom)
Unknown. From Middle English fit (“hardship, danger”), possibly from Old English fitt (“conflict”)—a word only attested once. Compare Cornish fit (“game match, bout”); or else, maybe cognate with Italian fitta (“sudden and stabbing pain”) (see further at Latin fīgere).
Meanings
(intransitive) To suffer a fit.
A spokesman said: "It is believed they (the dogs) got into the lake and drank from it. They came out and started fitting. Shortly after that three of them died and vets are attempting to resuscitate the other one." 2016 May 18, “Three dogs die and seven more ill after drinking from the same Kent lake amid contamination fears”, in The Telegraph:
He didn't just set around and try to out sweettalk^([sic]) somebody; he got out and out-fit somebody. He wouldn't be blowing when he told his boys how he fit for the woman he got. a. 1940, Mildred Haun, “Shin-Bone Rocks”, in The Hawk's Done Gone, page 218:
There wonst was two cats in Kilkenny; / And aich thought there was one cat too many. / So they quarrelled and fit; / And they scratched, and they bit; / Till, excepting their tails / And some scraps of their nails, / Instead of two cats there wan't any. 1867 November, unknown author, The Galaxy, volume 4, New York: W.C. & F.P. Church, retrieved 27 Oct 2023, page 883:
c. 19th century, unknown author, Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho and the walls came tumbling down
Piker had already shown off his “cozy-ass ’fit” (sweatpants with kitschy bald eagles, a custom pair of platform Crocs), and recounted his experience the previous night at the Streamer Awards, a red-carpet event honoring A-listers on Twitch—the popular live-streaming site where he is one of the biggest stars, and the only prominent leftist. 2025 March 17, Andrew Marantz, “The Battle for the Bros”, in The New Yorker, →ISSN: