form-fitting
UK[ˈfɔːm fɪtɪŋ]US[ˈfɔːrm fɪtɪŋ]
adj
(of clothing) designed to fit closely to the contours of the body.
Morpheme Breakdown
form
fit
ing
form
shape
fit
suit
ing
adjective suffix
Etymology
the compound adjective "form-fitting" is a modern english construction that transparently combines two core concepts of shape and suitability. the first element, "form," descends from the latin "forma," which originally conveyed the idea of a mold or an ideal shape, a concept that entered english via old french. the second element, "fit," has germanic roots, related to old norse "fitja" meaning to knit or join together, evolving to signify a perfect match or adaptation. the suffix "-ing" transforms the verbal action into an adjectival quality. thus, the word's logic is direct: it describes something, typically clothing, that is actively suiting or adapting itself to the specific shape of the body.
Analysis
Structure: form (shape) + fit (suit) + ing (adjective suffix)
form: from latin 'forma' (shape, mold, beauty), acting as a noun root meaning "shape" or "contour".
fit: from middle english 'fitten', of germanic origin, acting as a verb root meaning "to be suitable or of the correct size".
ing: from old english '-ende', a suffix used to form present participles and adjectives indicating a quality or function.
Examples
she wore a form-fitting dress to the gala.
this athletic wear is designed to be form-fitting without restricting movement.
the tailor specializes in creating form-fitting suits.