fit¹ / fit/ • adj. (fit·ter, fit·test) 1. (of a thing) of a suitable quality, standard, or type to meet the required purpose: the meat is fit for human consumption is the water clean and fit to drink? ∎  (of a person) having the requisite qualities or skills to undertake something competently: he felt himself quite fit for battle Ted was ghastly pale and fit to do no more than switch channels. ∎ Biol. possessing or conferring the ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment: survival of the fittest. ∎  suitable and correct according to accepted social standards: a fit subject on which to correspond. ∎  inf. (of a person or thing) having reached such an extreme condition as to be on the point of doing the thing specified: he baited even his close companions until they were fit to kill him. ∎ inf. ready: well, are you fit?2. in good health, esp. because of regular physical exercise: I swim regularly to keep fit fig. the measures would ensure a leaner, fitter company. • v. (fit·ted or fit / fit/ , fit·ting) [tr.] 1. be of the right shape and size for: those jeans still fit me [intr.] the shoes fit better after being stretched. ∎  (usu. be fitted for) try clothing on (someone) in order to make or alter it to the correct size: she was about to be fitted for her costume. ∎  [intr.] be of the right size, shape, or number to occupy a particular position or place: Angela says we can all fit in her car.2. fix or put (something) into place: they fitted smoke alarms to their home. ∎  (often be fitted with) provide (something) with a particular component or article: most tools can be fitted with a new handle. ∎  join or cause to join together to form a whole: [intr.] it took a while to figure out how the confounded things fit together [tr.] many physicists tried to fit together the various pieces of the puzzle. 3. be in agreement or harmony with; match: the punishment should fit the crime. ∎  (of an attribute, qualification, or skill) make (someone) suitable to fulfill a particular role or undertake a particular task: an MS fits the student for a professional career.• n. the particular way in which something, esp. a garment or component, fits around or into something: the dress was a perfect fit. ∎  the particular way in which a thing matches something else: a close fit between teachers' qualifications and their teaching responsibilities. ∎ Statistics the correspondence between observed data and the values expected by theory.PHRASES: (as) fit as a fiddlesee fiddle.fit like a glovesee glove.fit to be tied inf. very angry: Daddy was fit to be tied when I separated from Hugh.see (or think) fit consider it correct or acceptable to do something: why did the company see fit to give you the job?PHRASAL VERBS: fit in (of a person) be socially compatible with other members of a group: he feels he should become tough to fit in with his friends. ∎  (of a thing) be in harmony with other things within a larger structure: produce ideas that fit in with an established approach. ∎  (also fit into) (of a person or thing) constitute part of a particular situation or larger structure: where do your sisters fit in?fit someone/something in (or into) find room or have sufficient space for someone or something: can you fit any more books into the box? ∎  succeed in finding time in a busy schedule to see someone or do something: you're never too busy to fit exercise into your life.fit someone/something out (or up) provide with the necessary equipment, supplies, clothes, or other items for a particular situation: the cabin had been fitted out to a high standard.DERIVATIVES: fit·ly / ˈfitlē/ adv.fit² • n. a sudden uncontrollable outbreak of intense emotion, laughter, coughing, or other action or activity: in a fit of temper he got coughing fits. ∎  a sudden attack of convulsions and/or loss of consciousness, typical of epilepsy and some other medical conditions: he thought she was having a fit.PHRASES: have (or throw) a fit inf. be very surprised or angry: my mother would have a fit if she heard that.in fits (of laughter) inf. highly amused: he had us all in fits.in (or by) fits and starts with irregular bursts of activity: the machine tends to go forward in fits and starts.fit³ (also fytte) • n. archaic a section of a poem.

fit3 be or make proper or suitable; supply, equip. XVI. In these senses not recorded before late XVI, but a verb fitte marshal forces (XIV) may point to a ME. vb. with the gen. sense ‘arrange, adjust, match’; cf. (rare) ME. fitte person's match (XIII).
Hence sb. XVII.

fit1 †dangerous position or experience XIV; paroxysm, sudden state of activity XVI. OE. fitt (once) prob. ‘conflict’. of unkn. orig.
Hence fitful XVII.

fit (fit) n. a sudden attack. The term is commonly used specifically for the seizures of epilepsy but it is also used more generally, e.g. a fit of coughing.

fit2 well suited, proper XIV; qualified, prepared XVI. perh. pp. of next.