different between fitful vs restless

English

Etymology

From fit +? -ful.

Pronunciation

Adjective

fitful (comparative more fitful, superlative most fitful)

1. Irregular; unsteady; characterized by fits.

   His breathing was fitful.

   • 1605, Shakespeare, Macbeth, act III

     […] Duncan is in his grave;

     After life's fitful fever he sleeps well;

   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, chapter 123

     The cabin lamp—taking long swings this way and that— was burning fitfully, and casting fitful shadows upon the old man’s bolted door [...]

   • 2012, The Economist, The economy: Don’t say “green shoots”

     So fitful has Britain’s economy been that any good news is understandably snatched at.

Synonyms

• intermittent, spasmodic; see also Thesaurus:discontinuous

Derived terms

• fitfully
• fitfulness

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English restles, restelees, from Old English restl?as (“restless; disturbed”), equivalent to rest +? -less.

Pronunciation

• enPR: r?st?l?s, IPA^(key): /???stl?s/
• (weak vowel merger) IPA^(key): /???stl?s/
• Hyphenation: rest?less

Adjective

restless (comparative more restless, superlative most restless)

1. Not allowing or affording rest.

   The night before his wedding was a restless one.

2. Without rest; unable to be still or quiet; uneasy; continually moving.

   He was a restless child.

   She sat, restless and nervous, and tried to concentrate.

3. Not satisfied to be at rest or in peace; averse to repose; eager for change; discontented.

   A restless ambition.

4. Deprived of rest or sleep.

   They remained restless, sitting by the window the entire night.

Synonyms

• antsy

Derived terms

• restless legs syndrome
• restlessly
• restlessness
• the natives are restless

Translations

References

• restless in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• restless in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Further reading

• restless on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• Tesslers, tressels