Sit

Pronunciation

• enPR: sÄ­t, IPA: /sɪt/
• Rhymes: -ɪt

Origin

From Middle English sitten, from Old English sittan, from Proto-Germanic *sitjaną, from *set-, from Proto-Indo-European *sed- ("sit"). Cognate with West Frisian sitte, Low German sitten, Dutch zitten, German sitzen, Swedish sitta; and with Irish suigh, Latin sedeo, Russian сидеть.

Full definition of sit

Verb

1. (intransitive, of a person) To be in a position in which the upper body is upright and the legs (especially the upper legs) are supported by some object.After a long day of walking, it was good just to sit and relax.
2. (intransitive, of a person) To move oneself into such a position.I asked him to sit.
3. (intransitive, of an object) To occupy a given position permanently.The temple has sat atop that hill for centuries.
4. To remain in a state of repose; to rest; to abide; to rest in any position or condition.
• Bible, Numbers xxxii. 6And Moses said to ... the children of Reuben, Shall your brothren go to war, and shall ye sit here?
• ShakespeareLike a demigod here sit I in the sky.
5. (government) To be a member of a deliberative body.I currently sit on a standards committee.
6. (legal, government) Of a legislative or, especially, a judicial body such as a court, to be in session.In what city is the circuit court sitting for this session.
7. To lie, rest, or bear; to press or weigh.
• Jeremy TaylorThe calamity sits heavy on us.
8. To be adjusted; to fit.Your new coat sits well.
• ShakespeareThis new and gorgeous garment, majesty,
  Sits not so easy on me as you think.
9. (intransitive, of an agreement or arrangement) To be accepted or acceptable; to work.How will this new contract sit with the workers?I don’t think it will sit well.The violence in these video games sits awkwardly with their stated aim of educating children.
10. (transitive) To cause to be seated or in a sitting posture; to furnish a seat to.Sit him in front of the TV and he might watch for hours.
• 1874, James Thomson, The City of Dreadful Night, XX
11. (transitive) To accommodate in seats; to seat.The dining room table sits eight comfortably.
• I sat me weary on a pillar's base,
  And leaned against the shaft
12. (intransitive) shortened form of babysit.I'm going to sit for them on Thursday.
13. (transitive, US) To babysitI need to find someone to sit my kids on Friday evening for four hours.
14. (transitive, Australia, New Zealand, UK) To take, to undergo or complete (an examination or test).
15. To cover and warm eggs for hatching, as a fowl; to brood; to incubate.
• Bible, Jer. xvii. 11The partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not.
16. To take a position for the purpose of having some artistic representation of oneself made, such as a picture or a bust.I'm sitting for a painter this evening.
17. To have position, as at the point blown from; to hold a relative position; to have direction.
• Seldenlike a good miller that knows how to grind, which way soever the wind sits
• Sir Walter ScottSits the wind in that quarter?

Conjugation

• An obsolete form of the simple past is sate and of the past participle is sitten.

Synonyms

• (be in a position in which the upper body is upright and the legs are supported) be seated
• (move oneself into such a position) be seated, sit down from a standing position, sit up from a prone position, take a seat
• (of an object: occupy a given position permanently) be, be found, be situated
• (be a member of a deliberative body)
• (be accepted) be accepted, be welcomed, be well received
• (to accommodate in seats) seat

Derived terms

Noun

1. (rare, Buddhism) an event (usually one full day or more) where the primary goal is to sit in meditation.

Anagrams

• IST, its, it's, STI, 'tis, TIS