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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sutabil, -le, Suitabil(l, adj. (adv.). Also: sutabell, suteable, suitable, swittable, suetabl, seut(h)able, sedabill. [e.m.E. sutable (a1555), suteable (1584), suitable (1631); Sut(e v.]

A. adj. 1. Appropriate, fitting; requisite.The form seuthable in Doug. may simply be a misreading of semabill. 1513 Doug. i Prol. 388 (Sm.).
By about speche oft in tymes And seuthable [C. semabill] wordis we compile our rymes a1658 Durham Commandments (1675) 178.
Liberal laying up, and giving for the relief of the poor … would be added as a suitable duty of it, though it be no duty of immediate worship 1659 A. Hay Diary 83.
Lord, grant sutable friut 1664 Lamont Diary 171.
He was interred att Markinshe … with sutabell solemnitie 1689 Siege Castle Edinb. 11.
Nor did he judge it suteable and consistent with his duty … to his prince … to be wilfull in giving over his charge of the castle and retiring abroad 1695 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 156.
Building the said house … in sufficient stonework, with peaches, in a decent maner suteable 1696 Minnigaff Par. Rec. 10.
He was rebooked smairtly and upon promise of a more suitable walk was dismissed 1697 Strathendrick 62.
The minister and the elderis … to be at all suteable pains and dilligence in preparing themselves and the people

2. Fitted for, matching, agreeing with or appropriate to (something). Also (once) const. to (persons) to do (something). Also (once) with a person as subject.(1) 1614 Laing MSS 138.
Als manie gallowne les of silke suitabill to the saten as will serve to put tu in all pairtis of the dowblet 1614 Laing MSS 138.
Two paire of gairteris suitabill to the girdillis 1653 Binning Wks. 579.
The heart is weakened, and nothing is suitable to the yoke of Christian love and obedience 1657 Laing MSS 308.
Bott sure I am those papers ar nott sutabil to my Lords condition c1660 Honours Scotl. 118.
There lordships will … render a punishment suetabl to so great a villenny 1661 Dickinson Source-bk. III 156.
With that submission and obedience to his majesties authority and commands that is suteable to the alledgeance and duety of good subjects 1662 Glasgow Chart. II 46.
Episcopall government, which they find to be … most suteable to monarchie and the peace and quyet of the state 1665 Laing MSS 345.
To put the calumners to such condigne punishment as shall be seutable to the scandell they hav raised 1666 Galloway Synod 50.
Under a penalty (suteable to their qualities) for observing the ordinances 1690 Douglas Corr. 285.
Itt was a nightt buriall, and sutabell to hir qualitie 1694 Lett. (Annandale Papers, R. C. Reid transcript).
A pair of good stockings swittable to the coller of your cloath(2) 1669 Conv. Burghs III 618.
That certane laweris and advocats be pitched wpon and such honorarie granted to them as is suteable to the royall burrowes to give and for them to accept(3) 1549–50 Balcarres P. 309.
Gyff God pleis put me in that rome [sc. the archbishopric of Glasgow], I salbe als necessair and sedabill to the werk of ȝour grace as any of my estait borne in ony of the realmes

B. adv. = Sutably adv. b. ?1634 Hawick Arch. Soc. (1906) 53.
The great gumpheon of black tafta caried one the pointe of lance sutable by Mr. James Scote 1651 Dunkeld Presb. II 495.
To … take pains upon them to behave sutable towards their Majesties