Link Centre Dictionary

fitful

fit·ful

UK/ˈfɪtf(ʊ)l/ US/ˈfɪtf(ə)l/ uncommon obsolete

adjective

1.

occurring in spells and often abruptly

  • “fitful bursts of energy”
  • “spasmodic rifle fire”
Synonyms
Similar
2.

intermittently stopping and starting

  • “fitful (or interrupted) sleep”
  • “off-and-on static”
Synonyms
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Origin

From fit (“convulsion, seizure; sudden burst of activity”) + -ful (suffix forming adjectives from nouns, with the sense of being full of, tending to, or thoroughly possessing the quality expressed by the noun).

Phrases

  • in fits and starts

Related words

Word family

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.