Word: saddle Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English sadelen (“to put a saddle on (an animal), to saddle”) [and other forms], from Old English sadolian, sadelian, sadilian (“to saddle”), from Proto-Germanic *sadulōną (“to saddle”), from *sadulaz (“a saddle”, noun) (see further at etymology 1) + *-ōną (suffix forming denominative verbs from nouns). Cognates * Middle Dutch sādelen (modern Dutch zadelen) * Middle Low German sādelen * Old Danish sathlæ (modern Danish sadle) * Old High German satalōn, satulōn (Middle High German satelen, sateln, German satteln) * Old Norse sǫðla * Old Swedish saþla (modern Swedish sadla) Pronunciation: /ˈsædl̩/, /ˈsæd(ə)l/ 1. To put a saddle (noun sense 1) on (an animal). Labels: transitive Example: Then roſe Balaam vp in the mornynge, & ſadled his Aſſe, & wente wͪ the prynces of yͤ Moabites. Example: Saddle your horſe on the race day in the ſtable before you leade him forth, and fixe both the pannell and the girthes to his backe and ſides vvith Shooe-makers vvaxe to preuent all daungers. 2. To put (something) on to another thing like a saddle on an animal. Labels: transitive Example: Reſolv'd for Sea, the Slaves thy Baggage pack; / Each ſaddled, vvith his Burden on his back: […] Example: The centre of the nest is what I would call saddled on the bough, the materials being laid so that the nest is thinner in its middle part and thicker at the two opposite sides, so as to have a firm hold. 3. To enter (a trained horse) into a race. Labels: figuratively, transitive 4. Chiefly followed by with: to burden or encumber (someone) with some problem or responsibility. Labels: figuratively, transitive Example: He has been saddled with the task of collecting evidence of the theft. Example: They went shopping and left me saddled with two children to look after. 5. Chiefly followed by on or upon: to place (a burden or responsibility) or thrust (a problem) on someone. Labels: figuratively, transitive Example: I did not dislose the name of the man I proposed, because I found her only too eager to marry anyone upon whom she could saddle her debts, and so make him either pay them or change places with her. 6. To control or restrain (someone or something), as if using a saddle; to bridle, to harness, to rein in. Labels: archaic, figuratively, transitive Example: But he never would believe that Providence had sent a few men into the world ready booted and spurred to ride, and millions ready saddled and bridled to be ridden. 7. To get (someone) to do a burdensome task. Labels: figuratively, obsolete, rare, transitive Example: Picked up Sotheby, who endeavoured to saddle me for a review of his polyglot Virgil. I fear I shall scarce convince him that I know nothing of the Latin lingo. 8. To cut a saddle-shaped notch in (a log or other piece of wood) so it can fit together with other such logs or pieces; also, to fit (logs or other pieces of wood) together with this method. Labels: transitive 9. To put something on to (another thing) like a saddle on an animal. Labels: obsolete, transitive 10. Often followed by up. Labels: Canada, US, intransitive Example: Next day, while we were saddling, Ali and Abd el Kader appeared. 11. Often followed by up. Labels: Canada, US, intransitive Example: Till the dead midnight we saddled not,— / I have journeyed far and fast— / And hither I come to carry thee back / Ere the darkness shall be past. Example: [A]y, every churl who owns a manor, if he dares—must needs arm and saddle, and levy war on his own behalf, and harry and slay the King's lieges, if he have not garlic to his roast goose every time he chooses […]