v. t.
That name best befits thee. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Suitable; proper; becoming; fitting. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. In a befitting manner; suitably. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ OE. benefet, benfeet, bienfet, F. bienfait, fr. L. benefactum; bene well (adv. of bonus good) + factum, p. p. of facere to do. See Bounty, and Fact. ]
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Ps. ciii. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]
Men have no right to what is not for their benefit. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]
Benefit of clergy. (Law)
v. t.
I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. Jer. xviii. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i. To gain advantage; to make improvement; to profit;
n. One who confers a benefit; -- also, one who receives a benefit. [ 1913 Webster ]
. A society or association formed for mutual insurance, as among tradesmen or in labor unions, to provide for relief in sickness, old age, and for the expenses of burial. Usually called
n. [ F. confit, prop. a p. p., fr. confire to preserve, pickle, fr. L. conficere to prepare; con- + facere to make. See Fact, and cf. Confect. ] A dry sweetmeat; any kind of fruit, root, or seed preserved with sugar and dried; a confection. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. To preserve dry with sugar. [ 1913 Webster ]
The fruit which does so quickly waste, . . .
Thou comfitest in sweets to make it last. Cowley. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ F. confiture; cf. LL. confecturae sweetmeats, confectura a preparing. See Comfit, and cf. Confiture. ] See Comfit, n. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. Same as Comfit. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. confitens, p. pr. ] One who confesses his sins and faults. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
‖n. [ L., I confess. See Confess. ] (R.C.Ch.) A form of prayer in which public confession of sins is made. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ F. See Confiture. ] Composition; preparation, as of a drug, or confection; a sweetmeat. [ Obs. ] “Confitures and pies.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
And his proud foes discomfit in victorious field. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
Well, go with me and be not so discomfited. Shak.
a. Discomfited; overthrown. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
n. Rout; overthrow; discomfiture. [ 1913 Webster ]
Such a discomfit as shall quite despoil him. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. pl. people who are defeated.
n. [ OF. desconfiture, F. déconfiture. See Discomfort, v. t., and cf. Comfiture. ] The act of discomfiting, or the state of being discomfited; rout; overthrow; defeat; frustration; confusion and dejection. [ 1913 Webster ]
Every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture. 1 Sam. xiv. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]
A hope destined to end . . . in discomfiture and disgrace. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i. & i. To be, or to cause to be, without profit or benefit. [ Obs. or Archaic ] Bale. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. Loss; damage. Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Unprofitable. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
imp. & p. p. of Fight. [ Obs. or Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ AS. fitt a song. ] In Old English, a song; a strain; a canto or portion of a ballad; a passus.
To play some pleasant fit. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
a.
That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
Fit audience find, though few. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
So fit to shoot, she singled forth among
her foes who first her quarry's strength should feel. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]
Is it fit to say a king, Thou art wicked? Job xxxiv. 18.
v. t.
The time is fitted for the duty. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]
The very situation for which he was peculiarly fitted by nature. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]
The carpenter . . . marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes. Is. xliv. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]
No milliner can so fit his customers with gloves. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
That's a bountiful answer that fits all questions. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
That time best fits the work. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
To fit out,
To fit up,
v. i.
Nor fits it to prolong the feast. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
Fit rod (Shipbuilding),
n. [ AS. fit strife, fight; of uncertain origin. √ 77. ]
Curse on that cross, quoth then the Sarazin,
That keeps thy body from the bitter fit. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
And when the fit was on him, I did mark
How he did shake. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
All fits of pleasure we balanced by an equal degree of pain. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]
The English, however, were on this subject prone to fits of jealously. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]
The fits of the season. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
A tongue of light, a fit of flame. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]
By fits,
By fits and starts
n.;
n. [ Contr. of fitched. ] (Zool.) The European polecat; also, its fur. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ Cf. F. fiché, lit. p. p. of ficher to fasten, OF. fichier to pierce. Cf. 1st Fish. ] (Her.) Sharpened to a point; pointed. [ 1913 Webster ]
Cross fitché,
a. (her.) Fitché.
a. Having fitches or vetches. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ See Fitché. ] (Her.) Fitché. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ From 7th Fit. ] Full of fits; irregularly variable; impulsive and unstable. [ 1913 Webster ]
After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well. Shak.
--
The victorious trumpet peal
Dies fitfully away. Macaulay.
adv. In a fit manner; suitably; properly; conveniently;
n. The act of fitting; that which is proper or becoming; equipment. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The state or quality of being fit;
n. See 2d Fit. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Suitable; fit. [ Obs. ] Sherwood. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The state or quality of being fitted; adaptation. [ Obs. ] Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]
adj. same as outfitted, 1.
n.
n. A little piece; a flitter; a flinder. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
Where's the Frenchman? Alas, he's all fitters. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. Anything used in fitting up; especially