Sit /(sĭt)/

Sit

3d pers. sing. pres.
  1. for sitteth. obs.

Sit

v. i.

imp. Sat; p. p. Sat; p. pr. & vb. n. Sitting

  1. To rest upon the haunches, or the lower extremity of the trunk of the body; -- said of human beings, and sometimes of other animals; as, to sit on a sofa, on a chair, or on the ground. archaic
    And he came and took the book put of the right hand of him that sate upon the seat.
    — Bible (1551) (Rev. v. 7.)
    I pray you, jest, sir, as you sit at dinner.
  2. To perch; to rest with the feet drawn up, as birds do on a branch, pole, etc.
  3. To remain in a state of repose; to rest; to abide; to rest in any position or condition.
    And Moses said to . . . the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?
    — Num. xxxii. 6.
    Like a demigod here sit I in the sky.
  4. To lie, rest, or bear; to press or weigh; -- with on; as, a weight or burden sits lightly upon him.
    The calamity sits heavy on us.
  5. To be adjusted; to fit; as, a coat sits well or ill.
    This new and gorgeous garment, majesty, Sits not so easy on me as you think.
  6. To suit one well or ill, as an act; to become; to befit; -- used impersonally. [Obs.]
  7. To cover and warm eggs for hatching, as a fowl; to brood; to incubate.
    As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not.
    — Jer. xvii. 11.
  8. To have position, as at the point blown from; to hold a relative position; to have direction.
    Like a good miller that knows how to grind, which way soever the wind sits.
    — Selden.
    Sits the wind in that quarter?
  9. To occupy a place or seat as a member of an official body; as, to sit in Congress.
  10. To hold a session; to be in session for official business; -- said of legislative assemblies, courts, etc.; as, the court sits in January; the aldermen sit to-night.
  11. To take a position for the purpose of having some artistic representation of one's self made, as a picture or a bust; as, to sit to a painter.

Phrases & Compounds
To sit at
to rest under; to be subject to.
To sit at meat
to be at table for eating.
To sit down
To place one's self on a chair or other seat; as, to sit down when tired.
To sit for a fellowship
to offer one's self for examination with a view to obtaining a fellowship.
To sit out
To be without engagement or employment
To sit under
to be under the instruction or ministrations of; as, to sit under a preacher; to sit under good preaching.
To sit up
to rise from, or refrain from, a recumbent posture or from sleep; to sit with the body upright; as, to sit up late at night; also, to watch; as, to sit up with a sick person.

Sit

v. t.
  1. To sit upon; to keep one's seat upon; as, he sits a horse well.
    Hardly the muse can sit the headstrong horse.
  2. To cause to be seated or in a sitting posture; to furnish a seat to; -- used reflexively.
    They sat them down to weep.
    Sit you down, father; rest you.
  3. To suit (well [or] ill); to become. [Obs. or R.]