suit en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /sɪu̯t/ (Wales)
- syo͞ot
- so͞ot
- /sjuʈ/ (South-Asia)
- (US) audio
- (Received-Pronunciation) audio
- (Received-Pronunciation) audio
- /sʉwt/ (British, Southern, Standard)
- /suːt/ (Received-Pronunciation, modern)
- /sut/ (General-American)
- /sʉt/ Scotland, Northern Ireland, foot-goose merger
- /sjuːt/ conservative Received Pronunciation, dated
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- Proto-Indo-European *sékʷetor Proto-Italic *sekʷōr Vulgar Latin sequor, sequi Vulgar Latin *sequere Vulgar Latin *sequita Old French siute Anglo-Norman suitebor. Middle English sute English suit Inherited from Middle English sute, borrowed from Anglo-Norman suite, from metathesis of earlier Old French siute, from Vulgar Latin *sequita, from *sequere, from sequor, sequi, from Proto-Italic *sekʷōr, from Proto-Indo-European *sékʷetor, from *sekʷ-. Doublet of suite. Cognate with Italian seguire and Spanish seguir. Related to sue and segue.
Meanings
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A set of clothes to be worn together, now especially a man's matching jacket and trousers (also business suit or lounge suit), or a similar outfit for a woman.
A canister of flour from the kitchen had been thrown at the looking-glass and lay like trampled snow over the remains of a decent blue suit with the lining ripped out which lay on top of the ruin of a plastic wardrobe.
1963, Margery Allingham, “Foreword”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:Think of banking today and the image is of grey-suited men in towering skyscrapers. Its future, however, is being shaped in converted warehouses and funky offices in San Francisco, New York and London, where bright young things in jeans and T-shirts huddle around laptops, sipping lattes or munching on free food.
2013 August 3, “Revenge of the nerds”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8847:Nick hired a navy-blue suit for the wedding.
- (broadly) A garment or set of garments suitable and/or required for a given task or activity: space suit, boiler suit, protective suit, swimsuit.
- (Pakistan, qualifier:women's speech) A dress.
-
(derogatory, metonymically, slang) A person who wears matching jacket and trousers, especially a boss or a supervisor.
Two smartly dressed suits walked up to the doctor. "Are you alright Dr. La Perouse?"
2016, A.K. Brown, Jumpstart (Champagne Universe Series: Book 1), page 29:You had an army / Of suits behind you
1996, Ani DiFranco, “Napoleon”, in Dilate:Suits didn't wear suits any more—they wore Tibetan prayer beads coiled around their wrists. But they slithered in a suitlike way.
2020, Emily Segal, Mercury Retrograde, New York: Deluge Books, →ISBN:Be sure to keep your nose to the grindstone today; the suits are making a "surprise" visit to this department.
- A full set of armour.
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The attempt to gain an end by legal process; a process instituted in a court of law for the recovery of a right or claim; a lawsuit.
If you take my advice, you'll file a suit against him immediately.
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Petition, request, entreaty.
Tam[burlaine]. Are you the wittie King of Perſea? Myc[etes]. I marrie am I: haue you any ſute to me? Tam[burlaine]. I woulde intreate you to ſpeake but three wiſe wordes.
c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene iv:
- (obsolete) The act of following or pursuing; pursuit, chase.
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Pursuit of a love-interest; wooing, courtship.
Rebate your loves, each rival suit suspend, Till this funereal web my labors end.
1725–1726, Homer, “(please specify the book or chapter of the Odyssey)”, in [William Broome, Elijah Fenton, Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC:
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(obsolete) The act of suing; the pursuit of a particular object or goal.
Thenceforth the suitt of earthly conquest shonne.
1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 60:
- The full set of sails required for a ship.
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Each of the sets of a pack of cards distinguished by colour and/or specific emblems, such as the spades, hearts, diamonds, or clubs of traditional Anglo, Hispanic, and French playing cards.
To deal and shuffle, to divide and sort Her mingled suits and sequences.
1785, William Cowper, The Task:
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(obsolete) Regular order; succession.
Every five and thirty years the same kind and suit of weather comes again.
- (archaic) A company of attendants or followers; a retinue.
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(archaic) A group of similar or related objects or items considered as a whole; a suite (of rooms etc.)
"You must wear these to-day, my dear child," said Lord Norbourne, as, entering the dressing-room of his daughter, he laid a suit of pearls on her table
1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 212–213:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| suits | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
warsuit · plushsuit · Buster Brown suit · suitability · monkey suit · union suit · civil suit · gorilla suit · pant suit · bodysuit · suit and service · demob suit · suitport · drysuit · three-piece suit · suit and tie · gimp suit · Nudie suit · anti-g suit · pram suit · reverse bunny suit · suitcase · leisure suit · catsuit · BIG suit · suit broker · sunsuit · anti-suit injunction · unsuit · gravity suit · tank suit · out of suits · chemical suit · quad suit · offsuit · poopy suit · pressure suit · jump suit · suitcoat · survival suit · bathing suit · safari suit · strong suit · birthday-suit · biosuit · shooting suit · established suit · pantsuit · enviro-suit · wet suit · combat armour suit · combat armor suit · minor suit · battlesuit · sweatsuit · romper suit · sailor suit · suit service · snapsuit · morning suit · suit costs · fatsuit · wondersuit · airsuit · zuit suit · fursuit · bondage suit · diapersuit · presuit · wetsuit · Jodhpuri suit · man-o'-war suit · suitmaking · half-suit · NBC suit · tiddly suit · gymsuit · countersuit · monosuit · rainsuit · cybersuit · murrsuit · sleeping suit · strike suit · skeleton suit · pumpkin suit · fold like a cheap suit · besuit · firesuit · immersion suit · suiter · hazmat suit · suit of armour · pants-suit · Adeli suit · undersuit · suit court · friendly suit · fat suit · shell-suit · cut one's cloth to suit one's purse · suit of dittoes · dinner suit · dress suit · Norfolk suit · siren suit · Noddy suit · bring suit · non-suit · snowsuit · suitlock · G-suit · suit covenant · diving-suit · paternity suit · antisuit · suitmaker · playsuit · trouser suit · skinsuit · missuit · jumpsuit · wingsuit · ghillie suit · ditto suit · permasuit · sleepsuit · all over one like a cheap suit · hardsuit · exosuit · nightsuit · oversuit · slack suit · sauna suit · pyjama suit · bunny suit · power suit · chem suit · amicable suit · suitlike · giggle suit · turtle suit · empty suit · Mao suit · nonsuit · skirt suit · class suit · suit custom · goon suit · major suit · ice-cream suit · suit of armor · birthday suit · suitless · bitchsuit · swimsuit · fullsuit · follow suit · meatsuit · law suit · pants suit · track suit · soup-and-fish suit · blue suit · penguin suit · Santa suit · long suit · hosesuit · suit jacket
Descendants
Hyponyms
tracksuit · flight suit · diving suit · EVA suit · bath suit · space suit · bathing suit · shell suit · swimsuit · exposure suit · zoot suit · Racal suit · Fauntleroy suit · bite suit
Relateds
Synonyms
action · litigation · litigation · suit · cause · lawsuit
Translations (209)
nl kostuum (set of clothes) · pt naipe (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · cs oblek (set of clothes) · sh одије́ло (set of clothes) · csb ancuch (set of clothes) · is jakkaföt (set of clothes) · kk костюм (set of clothes) · fi puku (set of clothes) · uk костю́м (set of clothes) · mk одело (set of clothes) · el χρώμα (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · sk farba (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · sv kostym (set of clothes) · nb drakt (garment suitable for a task) · mrw batas (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · gl traxe (set of clothes) · it colore (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · pl kostium (garment suitable for a task) · el ταγιέρ (set of clothes) · th หน้า (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · mi whare (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · fa-ira خِشْت (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · fi haarniska (full set of armour) · af pak klere (set of clothes) · nl kleur (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · ka კოსტიუმი (set of clothes) · ca vestit (set of clothes) · be масьць (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · ta கோட் சூட் (set of clothes) · da harnisk (full set of armour) · pl kolor (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · fr tenue (set of clothes) · es traje (set of clothes) · nb dress (set of clothes) · el στολή (garment suitable for a task) · cy siwt (set of clothes) · ko 슈트 (set of clothes) · be касьцю́м (set of clothes) · fr enseigne (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · pt velame (full set of sails) · lo ສາຕິກະ (set of clothes) · vi hoa (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · fi väri (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · fr suite (regular order; succession) · cs barva (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · ko 양복 (set of clothes) · ru костю́м (garment suitable for a task) · hy համագույն խաղաթուղթ (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · pt fato (set of clothes) · uk комбінезо́н (garment suitable for a task) · de Anzugträger (slang: person who wears matching jacket and trousers) · rue а́нцуґ (set of clothes) · yi קאָסטיום (set of clothes) · vi com lê (set of clothes) · ur سُوٹ (set of clothes) · tk kostýum (set of clothes) · fi puku (garment suitable for a task) · fi syyttäminen (act of suing; pursuit of a particular object or goal) · fi kokopuku (set of clothes) · sh odijélo (set of clothes) · el σειρά (regular order; succession) · cs následnictví (regular order; succession) · bg цвят (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · sw suti (set of clothes) · cs kombinéza (garment suitable for a task) · sl obleka (set of clothes) · tl terno (set of clothes) · tr kostüm (garment suitable for a task) · fi purjekerta (full set of sails) · tr simge (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · pl kombinezon (garment suitable for a task) · da jakkesæt (slang: person who wears matching jacket and trousers) · ps سوټ (set of clothes) · ja スート (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · vi chất (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · izh maa (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · ar بِزَّة (set of clothes) · nb drakt (set of clothes) · ru ма́сть (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · pt armadura (full set of armour) · hu kosztüm (set of clothes) · es ternada (set of clothes) · hy կոստյում (set of clothes) · da kulør (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · vi âu phục (set of clothes) · et ülikond (set of clothes) · cs pořadí (regular order; succession) · be масць (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · mk костум (set of clothes) · ca coll (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · da dragt (set of clothes) · sh bòja (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · sl barva (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · ru набо́р (group of similar or related objects or items considered as a whole) · km ខោអាវបារាំង (set of clothes) · es terno (set of clothes) · bg костю́м (set of clothes) · th หน้าไพ่ (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · sh бо̀ја (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · es palo (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · pt terno (set of clothes) · fr combinaison (garment suitable for a task) · ar حُلَّة (set of clothes) · sv svit (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · lv uzvalks (set of clothes) · fr couleur (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · hi सूट (set of clothes) · kmr bedil (set of clothes) · sv slipsnisse (slang: person who wears matching jacket and trousers) · fi pyrintö (act of suing; pursuit of a particular object or goal) · de Farbe (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · et kostüüm (set of clothes) · mi hūtu (set of clothes) · bg компле́кт (group of similar or related objects or items considered as a whole) · id setelan (set of clothes) · tg костюм (set of clothes) · az kostyum (set of clothes) · hu szín (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · eo kompleto (set of clothes) · da rustning (full set of armour) · da jakkesæt (set of clothes) · gd deise (set of clothes) · ar بَذْلَة (set of clothes) · es tacuche (set of clothes) · ga culaith (set of clothes) · pt traje (set of clothes) · ja 洋服 (set of clothes) · hu öltöny (set of clothes) · tr takım elbise (set of clothes) · cs výzbroj (full set of armour) · cy siwtiau (set of clothes) · my ဝတ်စုံ (set of clothes) · nn farge (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · ko 정장 (set of clothes) · cs oplachtění (full set of sails) · nn drakt (garment suitable for a task) · fi järjestys (regular order; succession) · ja スーツ (set of clothes) · he חֲלִיפָה (set of clothes) · nn kortfarge (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · bn স্যুট (set of clothes) · yue 西裝 /西装 (set of clothes) · ms sut (set of clothes) · sq kostum (set of clothes) · it abito (set of clothes) · cs bílý límeček (slang: person who wears matching jacket and trousers) · lv kostīms (set of clothes) · pt engravatado (slang: person who wears matching jacket and trousers) · fi maa (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · mn костюм (set of clothes) · tr kostüm (set of clothes) · uk масть (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · szl ancug (set of clothes) · vi quần áo tây (set of clothes) · hy մաստ (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · ko 색깔 (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · fr complet (set of clothes) · te సూటు (set of clothes) · it seme (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · sv färg (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · el κοστούμι (set of clothes) · es flux (set of clothes) · th สูท (set of clothes) · be касцю́м (set of clothes) · uk костю́м (garment suitable for a task) · km ទឹក (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · sh odélo (set of clothes) · nl pak (set of clothes) · fa-ira کُت شَلْوار (set of clothes) · lt kostiumas (set of clothes) · uz kostyum (set of clothes) · fa-ira کُت و شَلْوار (set of clothes) · cmn 套裝 /套装 (set of clothes) · sk oblek (set of clothes) · sh оде́ло (set of clothes) · fr costard (slang: person who wears matching jacket and trousers) · kea fóte (set of clothes) · af pak (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · cmn 西裝 /西装 (set of clothes) · sv dräkt (set of clothes) · ru костю́м (set of clothes) · frr klöören (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · ru компле́кт (group of similar or related objects or items considered as a whole) · lo ຊຸດ (set of clothes) · mk боја (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · fr tailleur (set of clothes) · ar بَدْلَة (set of clothes) · it vestito (set of clothes) · cmn 花色 (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · fi pukumies (slang: person who wears matching jacket and trousers) · fr costume (set of clothes) · ug كاستۇم (set of clothes) · af pak (set of clothes) · ru комбинезо́н (garment suitable for a task) · sv kostymnisse (slang: person who wears matching jacket and trousers) · pl garnitur (set of clothes) · el ακολουθία (regular order; succession) · kea fatu (set of clothes) · fi sviitti (group of similar or related objects or items considered as a whole) · nb farge (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · ro costum (set of clothes) · ar رَمْز (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · de Anzug (set of clothes) · nn dress (set of clothes) · fr ensemble (set of clothes) · ky костюм (set of clothes) · mk комбинезо́н (garment suitable for a task) · eo emblemo (card games: set of cards distinguished by color and emblems) · fi sarja (group of similar or related objects or items considered as a whole)