settle
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈsɛ.təl/
ipa: [ˈsɛtəɫ]
ipa: [ˈsɛtɫ̩]
enpr: sĕtʹəl
ipa: /ˈsɛtəl/
rhymes: -ɛtəl
Forms: form: settles
form: settling
form: settled
form: settled
form: sattle
Etymology: From a merger of two verbs:
* Middle English setlen, from Old English setlan (“to settle, seat, put to rest”), from Old English setl (“seat”) (compare Dutch zetelen (“to be established, settle”)) and
* Middle English sahtlen, seihtlen (“to reconcile, calm, subside”), from Old English sahtlian, ġesehtlian (“to reconcile”), from Old English saht, seht (“settlement, agreement, reconciliation, peace”) (see saught, -le).
German siedeln (“to settle”) is related to the former of the two verbs, but is not an immediate cognate of either of them.
Senses: examples: text: His fears were settled
text: She hopes to settle and questions about the plans.
text: The question of the succession to a throne needs to be settled.
text: It is a Pamphlet, [...] It will ſettle the Wavering, confirm the Doubtful, inſtruct the Ignorant, inflame the Clamorous, though it never be once looked into.
ref: 1714 February, [Jonathan Swift], The Publick Spirit of the Whigs: Set forth in Their Generous Encouragement of the Author of the Crisis: […], London: […] [John Barber] for John Morphew, […], →OCLC, page 4:
glosses: To conclude or resolve (something):
To determine (something which was exposed to doubt or question); to resolve conclusively; to set or fix (a time, an order of succession, etc).
examples: text: to settle a quarrel
glosses: To conclude or resolve (something):
To conclude, to cause (a dispute) to finish.
synonyms: dispose
dispose of
glosses: To conclude or resolve (something):
To conclude, to cause (a dispute) to finish.
In particular, to terminate (a lawsuit), usually out of court, by agreement of all parties.
synonyms: dispose
dispose of
examples: text: The coffee was only surface wet and looked worse than it actually was and as he returned to the Reception Desk to settle his account and give back his room key, he was met again by the young man who was still wearing his rucksack.
ref: 2012, Paul Kelly, Willie Blair: A Tale of True Loss and Sadness, →ISBN:
glosses: To conclude or resolve (something):
To close, liquidate or balance (an account) by payment, sometimes of less than is owed or due.
synonyms: discharge
examples: text: to settle a bill
glosses: To conclude or resolve (something):
To pay (a bill).
examples: text: He has settled with his creditors.
glosses: To conclude or resolve (something):
To adjust differences or accounts; to come to an agreement on matters in dispute.
examples: text: Of course, certainty is a value in all systems of conflict of laws—including those of the United States. Certainty for litigants decreases litigation and transaction costs and increases the chances that cases will settle.
ref: 2010, Clay H. Kaminsky, “The Rome II Regulation: A Comparative Perspective on Federalizing Choice of Law”, in Tulane Law Review, volume 85, number 1, page 79:
glosses: To conclude or resolve (something):
To conclude a lawsuit by agreement of the parties rather than a decision of a court.
examples: text: to settle my affairs
text: to settle her estate
glosses: To place or arrange in(to) a desired (especially: calm) state, or make final disposition of (something).
examples: text: The curate settled his collar, coughed, and, making an effort, knocked.
ref: 1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 3:
text: She twisted out from under the claim of his palm to settle her feet on the floor.
ref: 2012, Nancy Gideon, Seeker of Shadows, →ISBN:
text: Pausing only to settle his cloak and set his Regent's circlet on his hair, he strode to the rail and waited.
ref: 2002, Tom Deitz, Warautumn, →ISBN, page 53:
glosses: To place or arrange in(to) a desired (especially: calm) state, or make final disposition of (something).
To put into (proper) place; to make sit or lie properly.
examples: text: God settled then the huge whale-bearing lake, / And Tenedos we reach'd; [...]
ref: 1614–1615, Homer, “The Third Book of Homer’s Odysseys”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., Homer’s Odysses. […], London: […] Rich[ard] Field [and William Jaggard], for Nathaniell Butter, published 1615, →OCLC; republished in The Odysseys of Homer, […], volume I, London: John Russell Smith, […], 1857, →OCLC, page 54, lines 209–210:
text: [I]t drawing towards night, and they hoping that ſleep might ſettle his brains, with all haſt they got him to bed; [...]
ref: 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC; reprinted in The Pilgrim’s Progress as Originally Published by John Bunyan: Being a Fac-simile Reproduction of the First Edition, London: Elliot Stock […], 1875, →OCLC, page 4:
glosses: To place or arrange in(to) a desired (especially: calm) state, or make final disposition of (something).
To cause to no longer be in a disturbed, confused or stormy; to quiet; to calm (nerves, waters, a boisterous or rebellious child, etc).
glosses: To place or arrange in(to) a desired (especially: calm) state, or make final disposition of (something).
To silence, especially by force.
examples: text: I poured a charge of powder over the nipple so as not tu miss goin' off if possible. Click! went the match,—up jumped the flock, or tried tu. As they bunched up, Peggy blazed intu 'em, settlin’ how many I didn't know, …
ref: 1894-5, Patterson, Man and Nature (in The Primitive Methodist Magazine)
glosses: To place or arrange in(to) a desired (especially: calm) state, or make final disposition of (something).
To kill.
examples: text: clear weather settles the roads
glosses: To place or arrange in(to) a desired (especially: calm) state, or make final disposition of (something).
To bring or restore (ground, roads, etc) to a smooth, dry, or passable condition.
examples: text: The weather settled.
text: Wait until the crowd settles before speaking.
text: [T]il the fury of his Highneſſe ſettle / Come not before him.
ref: c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv], page 295, column 1:
text: With Vardy working tirelessly up front, chasing lost causes and generally making a nuisance of himself, Sevilla were never allowed to settle on a night when the atmosphere was electric inside the King Power Stadium.
ref: 2017 March 14, Stuart James, “Leicester stun Sevilla to reach last eight after Kasper Schmeichel save”, in the Guardian:
glosses: To become calm, quiet, or orderly; to stop being agitated.
examples: text: The roads settled late in the spring.
glosses: To become calm, quiet, or orderly; to stop being agitated.
To become firm, dry, and hard, like the ground after the effects of rain or frost have disappeared.
examples: text: And he settled his countenance stedfastly [upon him], until he was ashamed.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Kings 8:11:
glosses: To establish or become established in a steady position:
To place in(to) a fixed or permanent condition or position or on(to) a permanent basis; to make firm, steady, or stable; to establish or fix.
examples: text: Now thirteen Years of Age were ſwiftly run, / When the fond Father thought the time drew on / Of ſettling in the World his only Son.
ref: 1717, John Dryden, “Book IX. [The Fable of Iphis and Ianthe.]”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 325:
text: But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Chronicles 17:14:
glosses: To establish or become established in a steady position:
In particular, to establish in life; to fix in business, in a home, etc.
examples: text: to settle a minister
glosses: To establish or become established in a steady position:
In particular, to establish in life; to fix in business, in a home, etc.
In particular, to establish in pastoral office; to ordain or install as pastor or rector of a church, society, or parish.
topics: law
glosses: To establish or become established in a steady position:
To formally, legally secure (an annuity, property, title, etc) on (a person).
examples: text: He sighs with most success that settles well.
ref: 1712, Samuel Garth, Epilogue to Cato, a Tragedy, by Joseph Addison
glosses: To establish or become established in a steady position:
To make a jointure for a spouse.
examples: text: As People marry now, and ſettle; / Fierce Love abates his uſual Mettle: [...]
ref: 1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Alma: Or, The Progress of the Mind”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], and John Barber […], →OCLC, canto II, page 340:
glosses: To establish or become established in a steady position:
To become married, or a householder.
examples: text: He is settled in the profession of law at Rochester, New York.
ref: 1825, William Buell Sprague, An Historical Discourse Delivered at West Springfield:
text: Following his avowed aim to settle in his profession of medicine, Sloane arranged to call on Dr Thomas Sydenham, the foremost physician of his day in London, known as 'the English Hippocrates'.
ref: 1994, Arthur MacGregor, Sir Hans Sloane:
text: The likely explanation for this is the fact that between the two groups one is now settling in the profession while the older group is preparing to retire and are no longer keen to gain new skills.
ref: 2016, J. K. Ng’eno, M. C. Chesimet, “Differences in Mathematics Teachers' Perceived Preparedness to Demonstrate Competence in Secondary School Mathematics Content by Teacher Characteristics”, in Journal of Education and Practice, volume 7, number 18:
glosses: To establish or become established in a steady position:
To be established in a profession or in employment.
raw_tags: with "in"
examples: text: But then the Wind came about, and ſetled in the West for many dayes, ſo as we could make little or no way, and were ſometimes in purpoſe to turne backe.
ref: 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, page 1:
text: Chyle [...] runs through all the intermediate colors until it settles in an intense red.
ref: 1735, John Arbuthnot, An essay concerning the nature of aliments:
text: They settled down at an inn.
text: The hawk settled on a branch.
glosses: To establish or become established in a steady position:
To become stationary or fixed; to come to rest.
qualifier: "in"; "on" or another preposition; "in"; "on" or another preposition
raw_tags: with "down"
examples: text: the Saxons who settled in Britain
glosses: To fix one's residence in a place; to establish a dwelling place, home, or colony. (Compare settle down.)
examples: text: the French first settled Canada
text: the Puritans settled New England
text: Plymouth was settled in 1620.
text: It was in the year 1794, that an English family went out to settle in Canada.
ref: 1844, [Frederick] Marryat, chapter I, in The Settlers in Canada. […], volume I, London: Longman, Brown, Green, & Longmans, […], →OCLC, page 1:
glosses: To fix one's residence in a place; to establish a dwelling place, home, or colony. (Compare settle down.)
To colonize (an area); to migrate to (a land, territory, site, etc).
raw_tags: in particular
examples: text: Rome began to settle displaced or disenfranchised citizens, veterans, and allies in colonies beyond Italy.
ref: 2001, Eric Nelson, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Roman Empire, →ISBN:
glosses: To move (people) to (a land or territory), so as to colonize it; to cause (people) to take residence in (a place).
examples: text: to settle coffee, or the grounds of coffee
glosses: To sink, or cause (something, or impurities within it) to sink down, especially so as to become clear or compact.
To clear or purify (a liquid) of dregs and impurities by causing them to sink.
examples: text: to settle the sediment out of the water
glosses: To sink, or cause (something, or impurities within it) to sink down, especially so as to become clear or compact.
To cause to sink down or to be deposited (dregs, sediment, etc).
examples: text: to settle the chips in the potato chip bag by shaking it
glosses: To sink, or cause (something, or impurities within it) to sink down, especially so as to become clear or compact.
To render compact or solid; to cause to become packed down.
glosses: To sink, or cause (something, or impurities within it) to sink down, especially so as to become clear or compact.
To sink to the bottom of a body of liquid, as dregs of a liquid, or the sediment of a reservoir.
examples: text: Sometimes a tub will settle at one corner, causing the rim to slope.
ref: 1980, Robert M. Jones, editor, Walls and Ceilings, Time-Life Books, →ISBN, page 38:
glosses: To sink, or cause (something, or impurities within it) to sink down, especially so as to become clear or compact.
To sink gradually to a lower level; to subside, for example the foundation of a house, etc.
examples: text: The chips in the bag of potato chips settled during shipping.
glosses: To sink, or cause (something, or impurities within it) to sink down, especially so as to become clear or compact.
To become compact due to sinking.
examples: text: wine settles by standing
glosses: To sink, or cause (something, or impurities within it) to sink down, especially so as to become clear or compact.
To become clear due to the sinking of sediment. (Used especially of liquid. Also used figuratively.)
examples: text: Some mares do not show signs of being in heat even when tried ("teased") regularly with a stallion, but they often can be settled either by natural or artificial service, provided the approximate time of ovulation is determined and they are not suffering from either a diseased or abnormal condition of the reproductive system.
ref: 1926, Farmers' Bulletin, numbers 801-825:
text: During March, 1926, two more mares were bred to him and on February 14, 1927 one of them foaled a perfectly formed bay stud foal. It is not known whether or not the other mare settled for she was never returned for trial.
ref: 1928, The Journal of Heredity, volume 19, page 415:
text: This older mare created many, many problems for us in terms of trying to get the mare to settle. She came to us in January, and her record shows fairly consistent heats, but she had numerous problems which will be outlined in Example l0.
ref: 1977, Stud Managers’ Handbook, volume 13, page 153:
text: Those sperm may still be viable, enabling the stallion to settle mares for a while until he runs out of mature sperm and has no more coming on because of the gap in production while he was sick or injured.
ref: 2010, Heather Smith Thomas, Storey’s Guide to Raising Horses, 2nd edition, →ISBN:
text: However, even a stallion with low volume, poor-quality semen, if properly managed, can adequately settle mares.
ref: 2012, Cherry Hill, Cherry Hill’s Horsekeeping Almanac, →ISBN:
text: There are several kinds of hormones available that may help your mare to settle properly in case she is difficult to get in foal.
ref: 2017, Jacob (Jack) Moorman, Living Legend, →ISBN:
glosses: Of an animal: to make or become pregnant.
Synonyms: adjust
arrange
compose
decide
determine
establish
fix
regulate
Derived terms: resettle
settleable settle accounts with
settle a score
settle bed
settle down
settle for
settle in
settle into
settle on
settle one's account
settle one's affairs
settle someone's hash
settle the score
settle up
settle upon
settle with
settlor
Related terms: settlement
settler