Definitions

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  • verb Simple past tense and past participle of befit.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Nay, a strong rëaction occurred in his ideas the moment he had seen his brother's writing; and when he fainted, he fainted from the struggle in his mind of manifold exciting causes, such as these: -- hatred, jealousy, what he called love, though a lower name befitted it, and vexation that his brother was -- not dead.

    The Complete Prose Works of Martin Farquhar Tupper Martin Farquhar Tupper 1849

  • Nay, a strong rëaction occurred in his ideas the moment he had seen his brother's writing; and when he fainted, he fainted from the struggle in his mind of manifold exciting causes, such as these: -- hatred, jealousy, what he called love, though a lower name befitted it, and vexation that his brother was -- not dead.

    The Twins A Domestic Novel Martin Farquhar Tupper 1849

  • Hammam, sent thither for each of them a suit of apparel such as befitted a merchant worth a thousand. 494 When they had washed and donned each his suit, I carried them to my house where, seeing them well nigh famished, I set a tray of food before them and ate with them, caressing them and comforting them.

    The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

  • Turning aside from the principal entrance, he conducted Jeanie towards a sort of portal connected with the older part of the building, which was chiefly occupied by servants, and knocking at the door, it was opened by a servant in grave purple livery, such as befitted a wealthy and dignified clergyman.

    The Heart of Mid-Lothian 2007

  • And finally being belted, curled, and set straight, he descended upon the drawing-room, with a grave majestic air, such as befitted one who was at once a man of business and a man of fashion.

    The History of Pendennis 2006

  • Every one knew that a tocsin bell to be duly rung, should be rung long and loud — not with a little merry jingle, such as befitted the announcement of a wedding, but in a manner to strike astonishment, if not alarm, into its hearers; and on this occasion great justice was done to the tocsin.

    La Vend�e 2004

  • He observed no sort of moderation, such as befitted a private man, either in rewarding or in punishing; the recompense of his friends and guests was absolute power over cities, and irresponsible authority, and the only satisfaction of his wrath was the destruction of his enemy; banishment would not suffice.

    The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans Plutarch 2003

  • We drew up in the square, the happiest crew imaginable, but with a dignity such as befitted chosen N. C.O.'s and officers.

    Adventures of a Despatch Rider William Henry Lowe Watson

  • The cabin was a fortress, such as befitted the exposed situation in which it lay, and was supplied by the provident husband before his departure with provisions and ammunition sufficient to stand a siege: it was furnished on each side with, a loop-hole through which a gun could be fixed or a reconnoisance made in every direction.

    Woman on the American Frontier William Worthington Fowler

  • Mother Magdalis was surprised by finding at her bedside a new dress such as befitted a good burgher's daughter, sent secretly the night before from Ursula by Hans and Gottlieb, with a pair of enchanting new crimson shoes for little Lenichen, which all but over-balanced the little maiden with the new sense of possessing something which must be

    St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 4, February 1878 Various

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