befit

English

Etymology

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁épider.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi
Proto-Germanic *bider.
Proto-Germanic *bi-
Proto-West Germanic *bi-
Old English be-
Middle English bi-
English be-
Middle English fit?
English fit
English befit

    From be- + fit.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /bɪˈfɪt/
    • Audio (Southern England):(file)
    • Rhymes: -ɪt

    Verb

    befit (third-person singular simple present befits, present participle befitting, simple past and past participle befitted or befit)

    1. to be fit for
      His conduct was not befitting an officer of his station.
      • 2021 June 14, Scott Mullen, “Scotland 0-2 Czech Republic”, in BBC Sport‎[1], archived from the original on 23 August 2026:
        Clarke's side roared back with courage and belief befitting a team who had held their nerve in two shootouts to get here.
      • 1965, Amplified Bible, Classic Edition, The Lockman Foundation:
        Fine or arrogant speech does not befit [an empty-headed] fool—much less do lying lips befit a prince

    Synonyms

    Derived terms

    Translations

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