Part 4339

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A sudden and violent attack of a disorder; a stroke of disease, as of epilepsy or apoplexy, which produces convulsions or unconsciousness; a convulsion; a paroxysm; hence, a period of exacerbation of a disease; in general, an attack of disease; <as>as, a <ex>fit</ex> of sickness</as>.</def>

<blockquote>And when the <b>fit</b> was on him, I did mark How he did shake. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A mood of any kind which masters or possesses one for a time; a temporary, absorbing affection; a paroxysm; <as>as, a <ex>fit</ex> melancholy, of passion, or of laughter</as>.</def>

<blockquote>All <b>fits</b> of pleasure we balanced by an equal degree of pain. <i>Swift.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The English, however, were on this subject prone to <b>fits</b> of jealously. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>A passing humor; a caprice; a sudden and unusual effort, activity, or motion, followed by relaxation or insction; an impulse and irregular action.</def>

<blockquote>The <b>fits</b> of the season. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>A darting point; a sudden emission.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<blockquote>A tongue of light, a <b>fit</b> of flame. <i>Coleridge.</i></blockquote>

<cs><mcol><col>By fits</col>, <col>By fits and starts</col></mcol>, <cd>by intervals of action and re<?/pose; impulsively and irregularly; intermittently.</cd></cs>

<h1>Fitch</h1> <Xpage=564>

<hw>Fitch</hw> <tt>(?; 224)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Fitches</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[See <er>Vetch</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>A vetch.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<p><b>2.</b> <pluf>pl.</pluf> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>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 <spn>Nigella sativa</spn>, still used as a flavoring in the East. In Ezekiel iv. 9, the Revised Version now reads <i>spelt</i>.</def>

<h1>Fitch</h1> <Xpage=564>

<hw>Fitch</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Contr. of fitched.]</ety> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>The European polecat; also, its fur.</def>

<h1>Fitch\'82</h1> <Xpage=564>

<hw>Fitch"\'82</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>fich\'82</ets>, lit. p.p. of <ets>ficher</ets> to fasten, OF. <ets>fichier</ets> to pierce. Cf. 1st <er>Fish</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Her.)</fld> <def>Sharpened to a point; pointed.</def>

<cs><col>Cross fitch\'82</col>, <cd>a cross having the lower arm pointed.</cd></cs>

<h1>Fitched</h1> <Xpage=564>

<hw>Fitched</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(her.)</fld> <def>Fitch\'82.</def> <altsp>[Also <asp>fiched</asp>.]</altsp>

<h1>Fitchet, Fitchew</h1> <Xpage=564>

<hw><hw>Fitch"et</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <hw>Fitch"ew</hw> <tt>(?)</tt><hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. OF. <ets>fisseau</ets>, <ets>fissel</ets>, OD. <ets>fisse</ets>, <ets>visse</ets>, <ets>vitsche</ets>, D. <ets>vies</ets> nasty, loathsome, E. <ets>fizz</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>The European polecat (<spn>Putorius f\'d2tidus</spn>). See <er>Polecat</er>.</def>

<h1>Fitchy</h1> <Xpage=564>

<hw>Fitch"y</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Having fitches or vetches.</def>

<h1>Fitchy</h1> <Xpage=564>

<hw>Fitch"y</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[See <er>Fitch\'82</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Her.)</fld> <def>Fitch\'82.</def>

<h1>Fitful</h1> <Xpage=564>

<hw>Fit"ful</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[From 7th <er>Fit</er>.]</ety> <def>Full of fits; irregularly variable; impulsive and unstable.</def>