Middle English Dictionary Entry
fitten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | fitten v. Also fetten. |
| Etymology | Cp. OI fitja knit, & ME adj. fit. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To marshal or deploy (troops); ~ on frounte, to line up (troops); ~ in, to join (others); (b) to be fitting or proper (for somebody); fitting, proper, befitting, right. [Cp. the synonymous use of sitten, with which fitten is sometimes confused by scribes and editors.]
Associated quotations
a
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1755 : Thus he fittez his folke and to þe felde rydez.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1989 : The kynge..Fittes his fote-men..On frounte in the fore-breste.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2072 : Ferkes in..And fittez in freely one frounte with his feris.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4067 : Sexty thowsande men..Faire fettede one frownte be tha fresche strondes.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4710 : As fittynge is and expedient, We trete of pes and no longer feyne.
- (1431) Proc.Privy C.4.92 : Noon of my lordes of þe conseil here..dar take upon him, ne fitteth him to do, to lymyte þe povoir nedeful for þe seuretee of þe Kinges persone.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)125 : Zif he come nott..be the jugement executed upon hym as is fittyng.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)129 : Everech son of a burgeys who is herre to his father..come into ful court..and render to the baillives of the toun the swerd with which his father was sworen..as is fytting.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)p.105 : With grett aray and royall apparayl, As was fyttyng to her worthines.
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)361 : A moderate shame makith men to leve Many shameful thinges & vnfyttyng; Ouer moche shame makith men to bileve To leve that thing þat were to hym fyttyng.
- a1525(1470) Rebell.Lin.(ArmsV 435)13 : If ye wolle com, as fittethe a liege man to com to his soveraigne lorde in humble wise.