settle

present singular third person settles · participle present settling · participle past settled · past settled · alternative sattle

1. To conclude or resolve (something):
   1. transitiveTo determine (something which was exposed to doubt or question); to resolve conclusively; to set or fix (a time, an order of succession, etc).

      His fears were settled

      3 more examples

      She hopes to settle any questions about the plans.

      The question of the succession to a throne needs to be settled.

      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.

      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

      Synonyms: seal

   2. transitiveTo conclude, to cause (a dispute) to finish.

      to settle a quarrel

      Synonyms: dispose, dispose of

   3. transitiveIn particular, to terminate (a lawsuit), usually out of court, by agreement of all parties.

      Synonyms: dispose, dispose of

   4. transitiveTo close, liquidate or balance (an account) by payment, sometimes of less than is owed or due.

      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.

      2012, Paul Kelly, Willie Blair: A Tale of True Loss and Sadness, →ISBN

      Synonyms: discharge

   5. colloquialtransitiveTo pay (a bill or debt).
   6. intransitiveTo adjust differences or accounts; to come to an agreement on matters in dispute.

      He has settled with his creditors.

   7. intransitiveTo conclude a lawsuit by agreement of the parties rather than a decision of a court.

      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.

      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

2. transitiveTo place or arrange in(to) a desired (especially: calm) state, or make final disposition of (something).

   to settle my affairs

   1 more example

   to settle her estate

   1. transitiveTo put into (proper) place; to make sit or lie properly.

      The curate settled his collar, coughed, and, making an effort, knocked.

      1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 3

      2 more examples

      She twisted out from under the claim of his palm to settle her feet on the floor.

      2012, Nancy Gideon, Seeker of Shadows, →ISBN

      Pausing only to settle his cloak and set his Regent's circlet on his hair, he strode to the rail and waited.

      2002, Tom Deitz, Warautumn, →ISBN, page 53

   2. transitiveTo cause to no longer be in a disturbed, confused or stormy; to quiet; to calm (nerves, waters, a boisterous or rebellious child, etc).

      God settled then the huge whale-bearing lake, / And Tenedos we reach'd; [...]

      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

      1 more example

      [I]t drawing towards night, and they hoping that ſleep might ſettle his brains, with all haſt they got him to bed; [...]

      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

   3. UKdialectaltransitiveTo silence, especially by force.
   4. transitiveTo kill.

      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, …

      1894-5, Patterson, Man and Nature (in The Primitive Methodist Magazine)

   5. transitiveTo bring or restore (ground, roads, etc) to a smooth, dry, or passable condition.

      clear weather settles the roads

3. intransitiveTo become calm, quiet, or orderly; to stop being agitated.

   The weather settled.

   3 more examples

   Wait until the crowd settles before speaking.

   [T]il the fury of his Highneſſe ſettle / Come not before him.

   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

   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.

   2017 March 14, Stuart James, “Leicester stun Sevilla to reach last eight after Kasper Schmeichel save”, in the Guardian

   1. intransitiveTo become firm, dry, and hard, like the ground after the effects of rain or frost have disappeared.

      The roads settled late in the spring.

4. To establish or become established in a steady position:
   1. transitiveTo 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.

      And he settled his countenance stedfastly [upon him], until he was ashamed.

      1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Kings 8:11

   2. transitiveIn particular, to establish in life; to fix in business, in a home, etc.

      But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever.

      1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Chronicles 17:14

      1 more example

      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.

      1717, John Dryden, “Book IX. [The Fable of Iphis and Ianthe.]”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 325

   3. USobsoletetransitiveIn particular, to establish in pastoral office; to ordain or install as pastor or rector of a church, society, or parish.

      to settle a minister

   4. transitivelawTo formally, legally secure (an annuity, property, title, etc) on (a person).
   5. intransitiveobsoleteTo make a jointure for a spouse.

      He sighs with most success that settles well.

      1712, Samuel Garth, Epilogue to Cato, a Tragedy, by Joseph Addison

   6. intransitiveTo become married, or a householder.

      As People marry now, and ſettle; / Fierce Love abates his uſual Mettle: [...]

      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

   7. intransitiveTo be established in a profession or in employment.

      He is settled in the profession of law at Rochester, New York.

      1825, William Buell Sprague, An Historical Discourse Delivered at West Springfield

      2 more examples

      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'.

      1994, Arthur MacGregor, Sir Hans Sloane

      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.

      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

   8. intransitiveusually"in"; "on" or another preposition; "in"; "on" or another prepositionTo become stationary or fixed; to come to rest.

      They settled down at an inn.

      3 more examples

      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.

      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

      Chyle [...] runs through all the intermediate colors until it settles in an intense red.

      1735, John Arbuthnot, An essay concerning the nature of aliments

      The hawk settled on a branch.

5. intransitiveTo fix one's residence in a place; to establish a dwelling place, home, or colony. (Compare settle down.)

   the Saxons who settled in Britain

   1 more example

   The British could identify very few ‘village elders’ in the colony. The reason was that the majority of the Chinese in Hong Kong were male immigrants with no village to which to attach themselves. They tended to settle in an area known as Sheung Wan (the Upper Bay) on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island.

   1998, Stephanie Po-yin Chung, “An Immigrant Community and its Leadership, 1841–1900”, in Chinese Business Groups in Hong Kong and Political Change in South China, 1900–25, St. Martin's Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 22

   1. intransitivetransitiveTo colonize (an area); to migrate to (a land, territory, site, etc).

      Plymouth was settled in 1620.

      3 more examples

      the French first settled Canada

      the Puritans settled New England

      It was in the year 1794, that an English family went out to settle in Canada.

      1844, [Frederick] Marryat, chapter I, in The Settlers in Canada. […], volume I, London: Longman, Brown, Green, & Longmans, […], →OCLC, page 1

6. transitiveTo move (people) to (a land or territory), so as to colonize it; to cause (people) to take residence in (a place).

   Rome began to settle displaced or disenfranchised citizens, veterans, and allies in colonies beyond Italy.

   2001, Eric Nelson, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Roman Empire, →ISBN

7. To sink, or cause (something, or impurities within it) to sink down, especially so as to become clear or compact.
   1. transitiveTo clear or purify (a liquid) of dregs and impurities by causing them to sink.

      to settle coffee, or the grounds of coffee

   2. transitiveTo cause to sink down or to be deposited (dregs, sediment, etc).

      to settle the sediment out of the water

   3. transitiveTo render compact or solid; to cause to become packed down.

      to settle the chips in the potato chip bag by shaking it

   4. intransitiveTo sink to the bottom of a body of liquid, as dregs of a liquid, or the sediment of a reservoir.
   5. intransitiveTo sink gradually to a lower level; to subside, for example the foundation of a house, etc.

      Sometimes a tub will settle at one corner, causing the rim to slope.

      1980, Robert M. Jones, editor, Walls and Ceilings, Time-Life Books, →ISBN, page 38

   6. intransitiveTo become compact due to sinking.

      The chips in the bag of potato chips settled during shipping.

   7. intransitiveTo become clear due to the sinking of sediment. (Used especially of liquid. Also used figuratively.)

      wine settles by standing

8. ambitransitiveOf an animal: to make or become pregnant.

   However, even a stallion with low volume, poor-quality semen, if properly managed, can adequately settle mares.

   2012, Cherry Hill, Cherry Hill’s Horsekeeping Almanac, →ISBN

   5 more examples

   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.

   1926, Farmers' Bulletin, numbers 801-825

   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.

   1928, The Journal of Heredity, volume 19, page 415

   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.

   1977, Stud Managers’ Handbook, volume 13, page 153

   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.

   2010, Heather Smith Thomas, Storey’s Guide to Raising Horses, 2nd edition, →ISBN

   There are several kinds of hormones available that may help your mare to settle properly in case she is difficult to get in foal.

   2017, Jacob (Jack) Moorman, Living Legend, →ISBN

plural settles

1. archaicA seat of any kind.

   sit on a settle of joy with angels

   c. 1348, Richard Rolle, The Form of Living

   3 more examples

   If hunger drive the Pagans from their dens, One, 'gainst a settle breaketh both his shins;

   1608, Joshua Sylvester, “The Law”, in Du Bartas his divine weekes and workes

   "The gloom of those failing embers," exclaimed Francesca, "Has infected us both!" and, rising from the low settle, she lighted the lamp, and flung some smaller wood on the hearth, and a cheerful blaze kindled at once.

   1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter X, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 110

   [The] Queen or eorl's wife, with a train of maidens, bore ale-bowl or mead-bowl round the hall, from the high settle of king or ealdorman in the midst to the mead benches ranged around its walls, while the gleeman sang the hero-songs

   1878–1880, John Richard Green, A History of the English People

2. archaicA long bench with a high back and arms, often with chest or storage space underneath.

   Let us return now to the little girl we left feigning to sleep soundly upon a settle in the kitchen.

   1880, Ellen Murray Beam, English translation of Captain Fracasse by Théophile Gautier

   4 more examples

   Beneath its shade, the place of state, On oaken settle Marmion sate, And viewed around the blazing hearth.

   1808 February 22, Walter Scott, “Canto Third. The Hostel, or Inn.”, in Marmion; a Tale of Flodden Field, Edinburgh: […] J[ames] Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Company, […]; London: William Miller, and John Murray, →OCLC, stanza III, page 103

   I sat down on an old wooden settle, carved all over like a bench on the Battery. At one end a ruminating tar was still further adorning it with his jack-knife, stooping over and diligently working away at the space between his legs. He was trying his hand at a ship under full sail, but he didn’t make much headway, I thought.

   1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “chapter 3”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC

   Nineteen persons were gathered here. Of these, […] John Pitcher, a neighbouring dairyman, the shepherd's father-in-law, lolled in the settle; […]

   1883 March, Thomas Hardy, “The Three Strangers”, in Wessex Tales: Strange, Lively, and Commonplace […], volume I, London; New York, N.Y.: Macmillan and Co., published 1888, →OCLC, page 7

   By the fireside, the big arm-chair […] fondly cronied with two venerable settles within the chimney corner.

   1886, John Williamson Palmer, After His Kind

3. obsoleteA place made lower than the rest; a wide step or platform lower than some other part. (Compare a depression.)

   And from the bottom upon the ground, even to the lower settle, shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ezekiel 43:14

plural Settles

1. countableuncountableA town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, previously in Craven district (OS grid ref SD816640).
2. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Allen County, Kentucky, United States.
3. countableuncountableA habitational surname from Old English.