set
1. set \'set\ vb or set; or set.ting [ME setten, fr. OE settan; akin to
OHG sezzen to set, OE s]ittan to sit 1a: to cause to sit 1b: to place in
or on a seat {~ a king on a throne} 2a: to put (a fowl) on eggs to hatch
them 2b: to put (eggs) for hatching under a fowl or into an incubator 3:
to place (oneself) in a position to start running in a race 4a: to place
with care or deliberate purpose {~ a ladder against t he wall} 4b:
TRANSPLANT {~ seedlings} 4c1: to make (as a trap) ready to catch prey
4c2: to fix (a hook) firmly into the jaw of a fish 4d: to put aside for
fermenting 5: to direct with fixed attention {had ~ his heart on going
with u s} 6: to put in writing {~ down all the items in one column} 7: to
cause to assume a specified condition, relation, or occupation {sl aves
were ~ free} 8: to appoint or assign to an office or duty : POST, STATION
9: to cause to assume a specified posture or position {~ the door ajar}
10a: to fix as a distinguishing imprint, sign, or appearance {the years
have ~ their mark on him} 10b: AFFIX 10c: APPLY {~ a match to kindling}
11a: to fix or decide upon as a time, limit, or regulation : PRESCRIB E {~
a wedding day} 11b: to establish by authority : DECREE 12a: to establish
as the highest level or best performance {~ a re cord for the half mile}
12b: to furnish as a pattern or model {~ an example of generosity)> 12c: to
allot as a task 13a: to put into a desired position, adjustment, or
condition {~ a thermostat at 70} 13b: to restore to normal position or
connection when dislocated or fractu red {~ a broken bone} 13c: to spread
to the wind {~ the sails} 14a: to put in order for immediate use {~ a
place for a guest} 14b: to provide (as words, verses) with melody and
instrumental accompanim ent 14c: to make scenically ready for a performance
{~ the stage} 14d: to compose (type) for printing : put into type 15a: to
put a fine edge on by grinding or honing {~ a razor} 15b: to bend slightly
the tooth points of (a saw) alternately in opposite directions 15c: to
adjust (a measuring instrument) to a desired position 15d: to sink (a
nailhead) below the surface 16: to fix in a desired position (as by
heating or stretching) 17a: to adorn with something affixed or infixed :
STUD, DOT {clear sky ~ with stars} 17b: to fix (as a precious stone) in a
border of metal : place in a sett ing 18a: to hold something in regard or
esteem at the rate of {~sX a great deal by daily exercise} 18b: to place in
a relative rank or category {~ duty before pleasu re} 18c: to fix at a
certain amount {~ bail at $500} 18d: VALUE, RATE {his promises were ~ at
naught} 18e: to place as an estimate of worth {~ a high value on life}
19: to place in relation for comparison or balance {theory ~ again st
practice} 20a: to direct to action 20b: to incite to attack or antagonism
{war ~s brother again st brother} 21a: to place by transporting {~ ashore
on the island} 21b: to put in motion 21c: to put an fix in a direction {~
our faces toward home once mo re} of a dog 21d: to point out the position
of (game) by holding a fixed attitude 22: to adjust (as a clock) in
conformity with some standard 23: to defeat (an opponent or his contract)
in bridge 24a: to fix firmly : make immobile : give rigid form or
condition to <(~ his jaw in determination} 24b: to make unyielding or
obstinate 25: to cause to become firm or solid {~ milk for cheese} 26: to
cause (as fruit) to develop chiefly dial 1: SIT 2: to be becoming : be
suitable : FIT {his behavior does not (R@ well with his years} 3: to cover
and warm eggs to hatch them 4: to become lodged or fixed {the pudding ~
heavily on his stomach } of a plant part 5: to undergo development usu. as
a result of pollination 6a: to pass below the horizon : go down {the sun
~s} 6b: to sink out of sight : pass away 7: to apply oneself to some
activity {~ to work} 8: to have a specified direction in motion : FLOW,
TEND of a dog 9: to indicate the position of game by crouching or
pointing 10: to dance face to face with another in a square dance {~ to
you r partner and turn} 11a: to become solid or thickened by chemical or
physical alteration {th e cement ~s rapidly} of a dye or color 11b: to
become permanent of a bone 11c: to become whole by knitting of metal
11d: to acquire a permanent twist or bend from strain : to begin to do 1:
DISCARD 2: RESERVE, SAVE 3: DISMISS 4: ANNUL, OVERRULE : ATTACK, ASSAIL
1: PUBLISH 2: to give an account or statement of 3: to start out on a
journey : set out 1: FURTHER 2: to set out on a journey : START : to
attack with violence : ASSAULT - set about
2. set aj [ME sett, fr. pp. of setten to set] 1: INTENT, DETERMINED {~ upon
going} 2: PITCHED {~ battle} 3: PRESCRIBED, SPECIFIED {~ hours of study}
4: INTENTIONAL, PREMEDITATED {did it of ~ purpose} 5: reluctant to change
: OBSTINATE {an old man very ~ in h is ways} 6a: IMMOVABLE, RIGID {~ frown}
6b: BUILT-IN 7: SETTLED, PERSISTENT {~ defiance} 8a: securely balanced
for delivering a blow 8b: poised to start running or to dive in at the
instant the signal is giv en {ready, ~, go}
3. set n 1a: the act or action of setting 1b: the condition of being set
2: inclination to an action 3: a number of things of the same kind that
belong or are used together 4: direction of flow 5: form or carriage of
the body or of its parts 6: the manner of fitting or of being placed or
suspended 7: amount of deflection from a straight line 8: permanent
change of form (as of metal) due to repeated or excessive stre ss 9a: a
young plant or rooted cutting ready for transplanting 9b: a small bulb,
corm, or tuber or a piece of tuber used for propagation <(an onion ~} 10:
the width of the body of a piece of type 11: an artificial setting for a
scene of a play or motion picture 12: a group of tennis games in which one
side wins six to opponent's four o r less or in case of a deuced score wins
two consecutive games 13: a collection of books or periodicals forming a
unit 14: a clutch of eggs 15: the basic formation in a country-dance or
square dance 16: a group of persons associated by common interests 17: a
collection of mathematical elements (as numbers or points) that are a
ctually listed or are identified by a common characteristic or by a rule of
formation 18: an apparatus of electronic components assembled so as to
function as a unit {radio ~}
Webster's English Dictionary