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Settle   /sˈɛtəl/   Listen
verb
Settle  v. t.  (past & past part. settled; pres. part. settling)  
1.
To place in a fixed or permanent condition; to make firm, steady, or stable; to establish; to fix; esp., to establish in life; to fix in business, in a home, or the like. "And he settled his countenance steadfastly upon him, until he was ashamed." "The father thought the time drew on Of setting in the world his only son."
2.
To establish in the pastoral office; to ordain or install as pastor or rector of a church, society, or parish; as, to settle a minister. (U. S.)
3.
To cause to be no longer in a disturbed condition; to render quiet; to still; to calm; to compose. "God settled then the huge whale-bearing lake." "Hoping that sleep might settle his brains."
4.
To clear of dregs and impurities by causing them to sink; to render pure or clear; said of a liquid; as, to settle coffee, or the grounds of coffee.
5.
To restore or bring to a smooth, dry, or passable condition; said of the ground, of roads, and the like; as, clear weather settles the roads.
6.
To cause to sink; to lower; to depress; hence, also, to render close or compact; as, to settle the contents of a barrel or bag by shaking it.
7.
To determine, as something which is exposed to doubt or question; to free from unscertainty or wavering; to make sure, firm, or constant; to establish; to compose; to quiet; as, to settle the mind when agitated; to settle questions of law; to settle the succession to a throne; to settle an allowance. "It will settle the wavering, and confirm the doubtful."
8.
To adjust, as something in discussion; to make up; to compose; to pacify; as, to settle a quarrel.
9.
To adjust, as accounts; to liquidate; to balance; as, to settle an account.
10.
Hence, to pay; as, to settle a bill. (Colloq.)
11.
To plant with inhabitants; to colonize; to people; as, the French first settled Canada; the Puritans settled New England; Plymouth was settled in 1620.
To settle on or To settle upon,
(a)
to confer upon by permanent grant; to assure to. "I... have settled upon him a good annuity."
(b)
to choose; to decide on; sometimes with the implication that the choice is not ideal, but the best available.
To settle the land (Naut.), to cause it to sink, or appear lower, by receding from it.
Synonyms: To fix; establish; regulate; arrange; compose; adjust; determine; decide.


Settle  v. i.  
1.
To become fixed or permanent; to become stationary; to establish one's self or itself; to assume a lasting form, condition, direction, or the like, in place of a temporary or changing state. "The wind came about and settled in the west." "Chyle... runs through all the intermediate colors until it settles in an intense red."
2.
To fix one's residence; to establish a dwelling place or home; as, the Saxons who settled in Britain.
3.
To enter into the married state, or the state of a householder. "As people marry now and settle."
4.
To be established in an employment or profession; as, to settle in the practice of law.
5.
To become firm, dry, and hard, as the ground after the effects of rain or frost have disappeared; as, the roads settled late in the spring.
6.
To become clear after being turbid or obscure; to clarify by depositing matter held in suspension; as, the weather settled; wine settles by standing. "A government, on such occasions, is always thick before it settles."
7.
To sink to the bottom; to fall to the bottom, as dregs of a liquid, or the sediment of a reserveir.
8.
To sink gradually to a lower level; to subside, as the foundation of a house, etc.
9.
To become calm; to cease from agitation. "Till the fury of his highness settle, Come not before him."
10.
To adjust differences or accounts; to come to an agreement; as, he has settled with his creditors.
11.
To make a jointure for a wife. "He sighs with most success that settles well."


noun
Settle  n.  
1.
A seat of any kind. (Obs.) "Upon the settle of his majesty"
2.
A bench; especially, a bench with a high back.
3.
A place made lower than the rest; a wide step or platform lower than some other part. "And from the bottom upon the ground, even to the lower settle, shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit."
Settle bed, a bed convertible into a seat. (Eng.)





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Settle" Quotes from Famous Books



... much prayerful deliberation and the careful weighing of every vital circumstance, I was constrained by the united voice of my brethren not to return to Tanna, but to settle on the adjoining island of Aniwa (A-nee-wa). It was even hoped that thereby Tanna might eventually be the more surely reached ...
— The Story of John G. Paton - Or Thirty Years Among South Sea Cannibals • James Paton
... Now, where did he come from, and why this display of anger? Possibly at our intrusion; yet this could hardly be, as it was far too early in the season for the crow to be nesting. Before we had time to settle our question the stillness was further broken by several shrill answers, and into the branchy arena came other crows. These were followed by others, and still others. Surely we were not the cause of all this ...
— Ohio Arbor Day 1913: Arbor and Bird Day Manual - Issued for the Benefit of the Schools of our State • Various
... you well, Ram Lal. It is my last little matter to settle with the authorities! Then my accounts are closed forever! As Treasurer you could do this!" Old Hugh Fraser Johnstone was ignorant of the veiled scrutiny ...
— A Fascinating Traitor • Richard Henry Savage
... their own vote, and sent up reasons why the lords should depart from their amendments. The lords were not convinced; and it was necessary to have a free conference, in order to settle this controversy. Never surely was national debate more important, or managed by more able speakers; yet is one surprised to find the topics insisted on by both sides so frivolous; more resembling the verbal disputes of the schools, ...
— The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part F. - From Charles II. to James II. • David Hume
... parties. It has been the invariable object of this Government to cherish the most friendly relations with every power, and on principles and conditions which might make them permanent. A systematic effort has been made to place our commerce with each power on a footing of perfect reciprocity, to settle with each in a spirit of candor and liberality all existing differences, and to anticipate and remove so far as it might be practicable all ...
— State of the Union Addresses of James Monroe • James Monroe


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