Part 168

4. A passing humor; a caprice; a sudden and unusual effort, activity, or motion, followed by relaxation or inaction; an impulsive and irregular action.

The fits of the season.

Shak.

5. A darting point; a sudden emission. [R.]

A tongue of light, a fit of flame.

Coleridge.

By fits, By fits and starts, by intervals of action and repose; impulsively and irregularly; intermittently.

Fitch (?; 224), n.; pl. Fitches (#). [See Vetch.] 1. (Bot.) A vetch. [Obs.]

2. pl. (Bot.) A word found in the Authorized Version of the Bible, representing different Hebrew originals. In Isaiah xxviii. 25, 27, it means the black aromatic seeds of Nigella sativa, still used as a flavoring in the East. In Ezekiel iv. 9, the Revised Version now reads spelt.

Fitch, n. [Contr. of fitched.] (Zoˆl.) The European polecat; also, its fur.

Fitch"È (?), a. [Cf. F. fichÈ, lit. p. p. of ficher to fasten, OF. fichier to pierce. Cf. 1st Fish.] (Her.) Sharpened to a point; pointed.

Cross fitchÈ, a cross having the lower arm pointed.

Fitched (?), a. (her.) FitchÈ. [Also fiched.]

{ Fitch"et (?), Fitch"ew (?) }, n. [Cf. OF. fisseau, fissel, OD. fisse, visse, vitsche, D. vies nasty, loathsome, E. fizz.] (Zoˆl.) The European polecat (Putorius fútidus). See Polecat.

Fitch"y (?), a. Having fitches or vetches.

Fitch"y, a. [See FitchÈ.] (Her.) FitchÈ.

Fit"ful (?), a. [From 7th Fit.] Full of fits; irregularly variable; impulsive and unstable.

After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well.

Shak.

-- Fit"ful*ly, adv. -- Fit"ful*ness, n.

The victorious trumpet peal Dies fitfully away.

Macaulay.

{ Fith"el (?), Fith"ul (?) }, n. [OE. See Fiddle.] A fiddle. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fit"ly (?), adv. In a fit manner; suitably; properly; conveniently; as, a maxim fitly applied.

Fit"ment (?), n. The act of fitting; that which is proper or becoming; equipment. [Obs.] Shak.

Fit"ness, n. The state or quality of being fit; as, the fitness of measures or laws; a person's fitness for office.

Fitt (?), n. See 2d Fit.

Fit"ta*ble (?), a. Suitable; fit. [Obs.] Sherwood.