Origin and history of befitting

As an adjective, "having the character of a beginner; befitting a novice," from 1520s....

French civiliser, verb from Old French civil (adj.), from Latin civilis "relating to a citizen, relating to public life, befitting...

1630s, "of or befitting to a master or teacher or one qualified to speak with authority," from Medieval Latin magisterialis...

incivilis "not civil," from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + civilis "relating to a citizen, relating to public life, befitting...

of Old French civilien "of the civil law," created from Latin civilis "relating to a citizen, relating to public life, befitting...

The meaning "lewd, obscene, unchaste" is from 1510s, from notion of "pertaining to or befitting a bawd;" usually of language...

c. 1300, "characterized by vigor or strength; having qualities befitting a knight; valiant, hardy, courageous;" from Old...

c. 1300, sute, also suete, suite, seute, "a band of followers; a retinue, company;" also "set of matching garments" worn by such persons, "matching livery or uniform;" hence "kind, sort; the same kind, a match;" also "pursuit, chase," and in law, "obligation (of a tenant) to atte

1680s, "process of fitting," from fit (v.). From 1823 as "the fitting of one thing to another;" 1831 as "the way something fits."..."paroxysm, sudden attack" (as of anger), 1540s, probably via Middle English fit (n.) "painful, exciting experience" (early 14c.), from Old English f

mid-15c., talie, "scored stick used in record-keeping, piece of wood marked with notches or scores to indicate amount owed or paid," also the record kept on it, from Anglo-French tallie (early 14c., Old French taille "notch in a piece of wood signifying a debt"), Anglo-Latin tale