suite English · revision 7239

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1673|origins=fro sieute}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /swiːt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|suite]], from Old French suite, earlier sieute, siute, the act of following, attendance,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) a later borrowing of the word that gave [[suit]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The pronunciation is French.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A train of followers or attendants: 1673, in Dryden's ''Marriage-à-la-Mode''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A set of rooms used together is first recorded in letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1716), from French;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Hoad calls this sense an English development.^(Hoad 1986) A succession or series is from 1722.^(OED 1989) A set of instrumental pieces to be played in succession is from the 1680s,^(Etymonline) and a set of matching furniture from 1805.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) In computing, a set of programs sold or used together is from 1966.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1673 – a train of attendants.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1680s – a musical suite.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1716 – a set of rooms.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1722 – a series.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1805 – a set of furniture.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A set of connected rooms, as in a [[hotel]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A set of matching furniture: ''a three-piece suite''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(music)'' An instrumental composition in several movements.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A group of attendants; a [[retinue]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(computing)'' A set of programs designed to work together.^(Chambers 2008)^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[en suite]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[suit]]

+ * [[sequel]]

+ * [[sue]]

+ * [[pursue]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}