Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “suit” come from?

Suit comes from Middle English sute, from Old French sieute, from Proto-Germanic sōtą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sekʷ-, meaning to follow or pursue.

suit (English): A set of clothes to be worn together, now...

Definitions

  1. A set of clothes to be worn together, now...

Ancestry of “suit”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishsuteClothes or clothing; especially those that match;...
2Anglo-Normansuitepursuit
3Vulgar Latinsequita—
4LatinsequorI follow, come or go after
5Proto-Italicsekʷōrfollow, come/go after
6Proto-Indo-Europeansékʷetorto be following
7Proto-Indo-Europeansekʷ-to follow; to see; to say

Words derived from “suit”

  • suitable
  • lawsuit
  • suitcase
  • unsuitable
  • suitably
  • suitability
  • swimsuit
  • jumpsuit
  • zoot
  • unsuitability
  • tracksuit
  • pantsuit
  • suitableness
  • wetsuit
  • nonsuit
  • unsuitably
  • unsuitableness
  • snowsuit
  • bodysuit
  • suiter
  • countersuit
  • sweatsuit
  • suiteth
  • catsuit
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sekʷ- →