pantsuit
UK[ˈpænts.suːt]US[ˈpænts.suːt]
n
a woman's suit consisting of matching trousers and a jacket.
Morpheme Breakdown
pants
suit
pants
trousers
suit
set of clothes
Etymology
the word 'pantsuit' is a modern english compound, formed in the mid-20th century to describe a new fashion item. its first element, 'pants', derives ultimately from 'pantalone', a stock character in italian commedia dell'arte known for wearing tight trousers. the second element, 'suit', originates from the latin verb 'sequi', meaning 'to follow', evolving through old french to denote a set of garments that follow or match each other. the compound logically combines these elements to name a matching set of clothes where the trousers, rather than a skirt, follow the style of the jacket, reflecting a shift in women's professional and formal attire.
Analysis
Structure: pants (trousers) + suit (set of clothes)
pants: origin: shortening of 'pantaloons', from french 'pantalon', from italian 'pantalone', named after a character in italian comedy. role: root, denoting the garment.
suit: origin: from old french 'suite', from vulgar latin 'sequita', from latin 'sequi' (to follow). role: root, denoting a set of garments.
Examples
she wore a crisp, navy blue pantsuit to the important business meeting.
the designer's new collection features a elegant silk pantsuit for evening wear.
for her court appearance, the lawyer chose a conservative black pantsuit.