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Befitting the common people; -- opposed to aristocratic. The Democratic party, the name of one of the chief political parties in the United States.

companionableness; the spirit and disposition befitting comrades. There's neither honesty, manhood, nor good fellowship in thee. Shak.

Appropriate to, or implying, friendship; befitting friends; amicable. In friendly relations with his moderate opponents. Macaulay.

Befitting a giant; bombastic; magniloquent. The sort of mock-heroic gigantesque With which we bantered little Lilia first. Tennyson.

Resembling or befitting a god or God; divine; hence, preeminently good; as, godlike virtue. -- God"like`ness, n.

Of or relating to the stage or a stageplayer; befitting a theatre; theatrical; -- sometimes in a bad sense. -- His`tri*on"ic*al*ly, adv. Tainted with false and histrionic feeling. De Quincey.

Having feelings befitting our common nature; congenial; sympathetic; as, a kind man; a kind heart. Yet was he kind, or if severe in aught, The love he bore to learning was his fault. Goldsmith.

Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman; refined; noble; independent; free; not servile or mean; as, a liberal ancestry; a liberal spirit; liberal arts or studies. " Liberal education." Macaulay. " A liberal tongue." Shak.

Befitting or like a lord; lordly.

Like, or befitting, a matron; grave; sedate.

Not to become; to suit ill; not to befit or be adapted to. Macaulay. Thy father will not act what misbecomes him. Addison.

Of or pertaining to a priest or the priesthood; sacerdotal; befitting or becoming a priest; as, the priestly office; a priestly farewell. Shak.

Befitting one's nature, qualities, etc.; suitable in all respect; appropriate; right; fit; decent; as, water is the proper element for fish; a proper dress. The proper study of mankind is man. Pope. In Athens all was pleasure, mirth, and play, All proper to the spring, and sprightly May. Dryden.

Such as befits a buffoon or vulgar jester; grossly opprobrious or loudly jocose in language; scurrilous; as, scurrile taunts. The wretched affectation of scurrile laughter. Cowley. A scurrile or obscene jest will better advance you at the court of Charles than father's ancient name. Sir W. Scott.

Of or pertaining to a secretary; befitting a secretary. [R.] Secretarial, diplomatic, or other official training. Carlyle.

To befit; to beseem. [Obs.] Spenser.

Having a semblance, whether with or without reality; apparent; specious; befitting; as, seeming friendship; seeming truth. My lord, you have lost a friend indeed; And I dare swear you borrow not that face Of seeming sorrow, it is sure your own. Shak.

Of or pertaining to a servant or slave; befitting a servant or a slave; proceeding from dependence; hence, meanly submissive; slavish; mean; cringing; fawning; as, servile flattery; servile fear; servile obedience. She must bend the servile knee. Thomson. Fearing dying pays death servile breath. Shak.…

Arranged in a manner befitting a ship; hence, trim; tidy; orderly. Even then she expressed her scorn for the lubbery executioner's mode of tying a knot, and did it herself in a shipshape orthodox manner. De Quincey. Keep everything shipshape, for I must go Tennyson.

To suit one well or ill, as an act; to become; to befit; -- used impersonally. [Obs.] Chaucer.