Comment by rolig, about 1 month ago

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:16:51 +0000

This is fascinating. Thanks, qroqqa! I love your etymological explorations.

Comment by qroqqa, about 1 month ago

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:13:08 +0000

One of those words with a complicated unfolding of senses. The origin is Latin *sequit-, past participle of seq- "follow", and the earliest meanings in English (late 1200s) are three senses of a "following":
(i) attendance on a lord at court, i.e. following one's lord there;
(ii) a lord's following, i.e. their company or retinue;
(iii) the livery worn by a following or retinue.

Then came the sense of "pursuit", hunting or seeking, and in the early 1400s this developed the sense of pursuing someone at law, a lawsuit. This then widened to any supplication or petition (early to mid 1400s). In the late 1500s it took on the particular sense of "courtship, wooing".

Now I'm guessing it was the "livery" sense that around 1400 was extended to any set of matching things: first clothing; then playing-cards (early 1500s); and numerous obsolete uses. 'Suit of armour' is modern, no earlier than Sir Walter Scott.

The variant form 'suite' took on various "set" meanings: rooms (early 1700s), music (mid 1700s), furniture (early 1800s), bathroom fittings (early 1900s).

Comment by reesetee, 6 months ago

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:37:30 +0000

Wow. That'll keep you quiet, huh?

Comment by chained_bear, 6 months ago

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:55:29 +0000

"People are hassling me today for wearing a suit."

*laughter*

"I'm just trying to get you all funding for the next three years, that's all."

*silence*

--My boss, two minutes ago.

Wordie: Suit: Comments

Comment by rolig, about 1 month ago

Comment by qroqqa, about 1 month ago

Comment by reesetee, 6 months ago

Comment by chained_bear, 6 months ago