suitor
SOO-ter
/ˈsuː.tər/
A man who pursues a relationship with a particular woman, with a view to marriage.
A suitor is a formal role in the process of courtship. It implies a certain level of seriousness and social standing.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'sequi,' meaning to follow. A suitor is literally someone who 'follows' or pursues a lady. This is the same root found in 'sequence' and 'suit' (as in a suit of clothes that follows the body).
Word relationships
- admirer: 'Admirer' is less formal and doesn't necessarily imply a goal of marriage.
- beau: 'Beau' is a more old-fashioned, French-influenced term for a boyfriend.
- rival: A person competing with others for the same objective.
Commonly confused with
- suit: A 'suit' is the act of wooing; a 'suitor' is the person doing it.
Word family
- suit (verb): To petition or woo.
Collocations
- rejected suitor
- prospective suitor
- persistent suitor
Example sentences
- "The princess had many suitors, but she found none of them worthy of her hand." Describing a princess in a fairy tale.
- "He was a suitor for the hand of the daughter of the house." A historical reference.
Memory hook
A 'suitor' follows 'suit' to win a heart. Suitor: One who 'follows' (pursues) love.
When not to use
Rarely used in modern dating; 'boyfriend' or 'date' is preferred unless the context is historical.
Fun facts
- In legal terms, a 'suitor' can also be someone who brings a case to a court of law—they are 'pursuing' justice.
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