I. (|)sit, usu -id.+V; before a vowel-initial adverb with primary stress often _səd. or _sət; before “down” often _sə or (|)si verb
( sat (|)sat, -ad., before “down” often (|)sa ; also chiefly dialect sot (|)sä]t, ]d. ; or archaic sate (|)sā]t, (|)sa], ]d. ; sat also chiefly dialect sot (|)sä]t, ]d. ; or archaic sit·ten |sit ə n ; sitting ; sits )
Etymology: Middle English sitten, from Old English sittan; akin to Old High German sizzen to sit, Old Norse sitja, Gothic sitan, Latin sedēre, Greek hezesthai to sit, hedra seat, Sanskrit sīdati he sits
intransitive verb
1. : to rest in a position in which the body is essentially vertical and supported or balanced chiefly on the buttocks or thighs or both
sit on a stool
sit in a chair
sit cross-legged
2.
a. obsolete : kneel
b. of an animal : to assume a position with the hindquarters at rest on a supporting surface
a dog trained to stand and sit at command
c. of a bird : to perch or rest especially with the feet drawn up close or with the body touching the ground
3. : to occupy a place as a member of an official body
sit in Congress
sit on the board of directors
sit as a member of a committee
4. : to hold a session : be in session for official business
magistrate … may sit in any place convenient — F.T.Giles
the legislature is still sitting
official committee … sitting on the question of the ultimate size and organization — Roy Lewis & Angus Maude
5. : to have or continue in an occupation or function
gamblers dealt or sat lookout with their sombreros on — W.N.Burns
6. of a hen : to cover eggs for hatching : brood , set
7.
a. : to take a position for having one's portrait painted or for being photographed
sit for a painter
b. : to serve as the original of a painted or sculptured figure or of a fictional character
8.
a. archaic : to have one's dwelling place : dwell
b. obsolete : to remain as a tenant
9. : to lie in wait
anyone sitting at the entrance to the pass, they'll see us if we go through the field — Norman Mailer
10.
a. of clothing : to lie or hang relative to the wearer
the collar sits awkwardly at the back
trying to see how the new coat sits behind
b. : lie , rest — used with on or upon
author's assumed regionalism sits uneasily on his verse — W.M.Maidment
great triumvirate of Edwardian novelists … that label sits comfortably on these three — P.M.Fulcher
c. : to affect one with or as if with a certain weight : press , weigh
her years sat lightly upon her
the pie sat heavily on his stomach
11. : to float in a specified manner
load so that the ship sits several feet deeper in the water aft
the boat sits practically on top of the water
12.
a. : to have a location
thy rapt soul sitting in thine eyes — John Milton
cottage sitting on the edge of a cliff
house sits well back from the road
b. of wind : to blow from a certain direction
when the wind sits one way I can hear the steam train — Christopher Morley
always rains when the wind sits in the west
13. : to please or agree with one — used with with and an adverb
setting an example that may not sit well with the more obedient Communist leaders — New York Times
14. : to remain in the same state
left the dishes sitting on the table
: remain inactive or quiescent
the car sits in the garage unused all week
do something, don't just sit there
sitting behind prison bars
15. : to be a candidate for a degree, certificate, or award : take or prepare to take an examination — used with for
was sitting for a scholarship at Newton College — Angela Thirkell
sat for his examinations … as a river pilot — New York Herald Tribune
16. : to act as a relief for a parent or nurse in watching over a child or an invalid
sit with a friend's baby
transitive verb
1. : to cause (oneself) to be seated — usually used with down
sat him down to write a letter
2. : to cause to be seated : place on or in a seat : put in a sitting position
let me sit you on the sofa … and talk over small matters — F.D.Roosevelt
a story that sat me up straight — S.H.Holbrook
3. of a hen : to sit upon (eggs)
4.
a. : to keep one's seat upon
sit a horse
b. : to trim (a boat) by the poise of the body or by the use of oars
5. chiefly dialect : suit , become , befit
6. : to provide seats or seating room for
the car will sit six people comfortably
7. Britain : to answer the questions of (an examination) in writing
•
- sit at one's feet
- sit at table
- sit loose
- sit on
- sit on one's hands
- sit on the lid
- sit on the splice
- sit on the throne
- sit pretty
- sit tight
- sit under
II. ˈsit, usu -id.+V\ noun
( -s )
1. : an act or period of sitting
a long sit at the station between trains
2. : the manner in which a garment fits
sit of a coat around the shoulders
3. : a settling or falling of the roof of a mine — usually used in plural
4. : an entire mature celery plant
III. abbreviation
situation