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To follow suit

Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)



   {Out of suits}, having no correspondence. [Obs.] --Shak.

   {Suit and service} (Feudal Law), the duty of feudatories to
      attend the courts of their lords or superiors in time of
      peace, and in war to follow them and do military service;
      -- called also {suit service}. --Blackstone.

   {Suit broker}, one who made a trade of obtaining the suits of
      petitioners at court. [Obs.]

   {Suit court} (O. Eng. Law), the court in which tenants owe
      attendance to their lord.

   {Suit covenant} (O. Eng. Law), a covenant to sue at a certain
      court.

   {Suit custom} (Law), a service which is owed from time
      immemorial.

   {Suit service}. (Feudal Law) See {Suit and service}, above.
      

   {To bring suit}. (Law)
      (a) To bring secta, followers or witnesses, to prove the
          plaintiff's demand. [Obs.]
      (b) In modern usage, to institute an action.

   {To follow suit}. (Card Playing) See under {Follow}, v. t.

Follow \Fol"low\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Followed}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Following}.][OE. foluwen, folwen, folgen, AS. folgian,
   fylgean, fylgan; akin to D. volgen, OHG. folg?n, G. folgen,
   Icel. fylgja, Sw. f["o]lja, Dan. f["o]lge, and perh. to E.
   folk.]
   1. To go or come after; to move behind in the same path or
      direction; hence, to go with (a leader, guide, etc.); to
      accompany; to attend.

            It waves me forth again; I'll follow it. --Shak.

   2. To endeavor to overtake; to go in pursuit of; to chase; to
      pursue; to prosecute.

            I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they
            shall follow them.                    --Ex. xiv. 17.

   3. To accept as authority; to adopt the opinions of; to obey;
      to yield to; to take as a rule of action; as, to follow
      good advice.

            Approve the best, and follow what I approve.
                                                  --Milton.

            Follow peace with all men.            --Heb. xii.
                                                  14.

            It is most agreeable to some men to follow their
            reason; and to others to follow their appetites.
                                                  --J. Edwards.

   4. To copy after; to take as an example.

            We had rather follow the perfections of them whom we
            like not, than in defects resemble them whom we
            love.                                 --Hooker.

   5. To succeed in order of time, rank, or office.

   6. To result from, as an effect from a cause, or an inference
      from a premise.

   7. To watch, as a receding object; to keep the eyes fixed
      upon while in motion; to keep the mind upon while in
      progress, as a speech, musical performance, etc.; also, to
      keep up with; to understand the meaning, connection, or
      force of, as of a course of thought or argument.

            He followed with his eyes the flitting shade.
                                                  --Dryden.

   8. To walk in, as a road or course; to attend upon closely,
      as a profession or calling.

            O, had I but followed the arts!       --Shak.

            O Antony! I have followed thee to this. --Shak.

   {Follow board} (Founding), a board on which the pattern and
      the flask lie while the sand is rammed into the flask.
      --Knight.

   {To follow the hounds}, to hunt with dogs.

   {To follow suit} (Card Playing), to play a card of the same
      suit as the leading card; hence, colloquially, to follow
      an example set.

   {To follow up}, to pursue indefatigably.

   Syn: Syn.- To pursue; chase; go after; attend; accompany;
        succeed; imitate; copy; embrace; maintain.

   Usage: - To {Follow}, {Pursue}. To follow (v.t.) denotes
          simply to go after; to pursue denotes to follow with
          earnestness, and with a view to attain some definite
          object; as, a hound pursues the deer. So a person
          follows a companion whom he wishes to overtake on a
          journey; the officers of justice pursue a felon who
          has escaped from prison.
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