—Usage note Both fit and fitted are standard as past tense and past participle of fit1: The new door fit (or fitted) the old frame perfectly. The suit had fitted (or fit) well last year.Fitted is somewhat more common than fit in the sense “to adjust, make conform”: The tailor fitted the suit with a minimum of fuss. In the passive voice, fitted is the more common past participle: The door was fitted with a new handle.
1823, "the fitting of one thing to another," later (1831) "the way something fits." Origin obscure, possibly from O.E. fitt "a conflict, a struggle" (see fit (n.2)).
"paroxysm, sudden attack" (as of anger), 1547, probably via M.E. sense of "painful, exciting experience," from O.E. fitt "conflict, struggle," of uncertain origin, with no clear cognates outside Eng. Phrase by fits and starts first attested 1620. Fitful was used once by Shakespeare ("Macbeth" iii.2) in sense of "characterized by fits," then revived by Scott (1810) with a sense of "shifting, changing."
"suited to the circumstances, proper," c.1440, of unknown origin, perhaps from M.E. noun fit "an adversary of equal power" (c.1250), which is perhaps connected to fit (n.1). The verb meaning "to be the right shape" is first attested 1581. First record of fitness is from 1580. Survival of the fittest (1867) coined by H. Spencer.
meeting adequate standards for a purpose; "a fit subject for discussion"; "it is fit and proper that you be there"; "water fit to drink"; "fit for duty"; "do as you see fit to" [ant: unfit]
2.
(usually followed by 'to' or 'for') on the point of or strongly disposed; "in no fit state to continue"; "fit to drop"; "laughing fit to burst"; "she was fit to scream"; "primed for a fight"; "we are set to go at any time"
3.
physically and mentally sound or healthy; "felt relaxed and fit after their holiday"; "keeps fit with diet and exercise" [ant: unfit]
noun
1.
a display of bad temper; "he had a fit"; "she threw a tantrum"; "he made a scene"
2.
a sudden uncontrollable attack; "a paroxysm of giggling"; "a fit of coughing"; "convulsions of laughter" [syn: paroxysm]
3.
the manner in which something fits; "I admired the fit of her coat"
4.
a sudden flurry of activity (often for no obvious reason); "a burst of applause"; "a fit of housecleaning" [syn: burst]
verb
1.
be agreeable or acceptable to; "This suits my needs" [syn: suit]
2.
be the right size or shape; fit correctly or as desired; "This piece won't fit into the puzzle"
3.
satisfy a condition or restriction; "Does this paper meet the requirements for the degree?" [syn: meet]
4.
make fit; "fit a dress"; "He fitted other pieces of paper to his cut-out"
5.
insert or adjust several objects or people; "Can you fit the toy into the box?"; "This man can't fit himself into our work environment"
6.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics; "The two stories don't agree in many details"; "The handwriting checks with the signature on the check"; "The suspect's fingerprints don't match those on the gun" [syn: match] [ant: disaccord]
7.
conform to some shape or size; "How does this shirt fit?"
8.
provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose; "The expedition was equipped with proper clothing, food, and other necessities" [syn: equip]
9.
make correspond or harmonize; "Match my sweater" [syn: match]
fit1 (fĭt) v.fit·ted or fit, fit·ted, fit·ting, fits To be the proper size and shape. adj.fit·ter, fit·test Physically sound; healthy. n. The degree of precision with which surfaces are adjusted or adapted to each other in a machine, device, or collection of parts.
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This Main Entry: 1fit Pronunciation: 'fit Function: noun 1: a sudden violent attack of a disease (as epilepsy) especially when marked byconvulsions or unconsciousness :PAROXYSM 2: a sudden but transient attack of a physicaldisturbance <fits of shivering>
A condition in which a security fulfills an investor's portfolio needs. For example, an investor may select a new municipal bond because that bond's maturity makes it a good fitin the investor's portfolio.
Fet"tle\, v. t. [OE. & Prov. E., to fettle (in sense 1), fettle, n., order, repair, preparation, dress; prob. akin to E. fit. See Fit, a.]1. To repair; to prepare; to put in order. [Prov. Eng.] --Carlyle. 2. (Metal.) To cover or line with a mixture of ore, cinders, etc., as the hearth of a puddling furnace.
Fit\, n. [AS. fitt a song.] In Old English, a song; a strain; a canto or portion of a ballad; a passus. [Written also fitte, fytte, etc.] To play some pleasant fit. --Spenser.
Fit\, a. [Compar. Fitter; superl. Fittest.] [OE. fit, fyt; cf. E. feat neat, elegant, well made, or icel. fitja to web, knit, OD. vitten to suit, square, Goth. f?tjan to adorn. ? 77.]1. Adapted to an end, object, or design; suitable by nature or by art; suited by character, qualitties, circumstances, education, etc.; qualified; competent; worthy. That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in. --Shak. Fit audience find, though few. --Milton. 2. Prepared; ready. [Obs.] So fit to shoot, she singled forth among her foes who first her quarry's strength should feel. --Fairfax. 3. Conformed to a standart of duty, properiety, or taste; convenient; meet; becoming; proper. Is it fit to say a king, Thou art wicked? --Job xxxiv. 18. Syn: Suitable; proper; appropriate; meet; becoming; expedient; congruous; correspondent; apposite; apt; adapted; prepared; qualified; competent; adequate.
Fit\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fitting.]1. To make fit or suitable; to adapt to the purpose intended; to qualify; to put into a condition of readiness or preparation. The time is fitted for the duty. --Burke. The very situation for which he was peculiarly fitted by nature. --Macaulay. 2. To bring to a required form and size; to shape aright; to adapt to a model; to adjust; -- said especially of the work of a carpenter, machinist, tailor, etc. The carpenter . . . marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes. --Is. xliv. 13. 3. To supply with something that is suitable or fit, or that is shaped and adjusted to the use required. No milliner can so fit his customers with gloves. --Shak. 4. To be suitable to; to answer the requirements of; to be correctly shaped and adjusted to; as, if the coat fits you, put it on. That's a bountiful answer that fits all questions. --Shak. That time best fits the work. --Shak. To fit out, to supply with necessaries or means; to furnish; to equip; as, to fit out a privateer. To fit up, to firnish with things suitable; to make proper for the reception or use of any person; to prepare; as, to fit up a room for a guest.
Fit\, v. i. 1. To be proper or becoming. Nor fits it to prolong the feast. --Pope. 2. To be adjusted to a particular shape or size; to suit; to be adapted; as, his coat fits very well.
Fit\, n. 1. The quality of being fit; adjustment; adaptedness; as of dress to the person of the wearer. 2. (Mach.) (a) The coincidence of parts that come in contact. (b) The part of an object upon which anything fits tightly. Fit rod (Shipbuilding), a gauge rod used to try the depth of a bolt hole in order to determine the length of the bolt required. --Knight.
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Audio Help [fit] Pronunciation Key adjective, fit·ter, fit·test, verb, fit·ted or fit, fit·ting, noun 
