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dead set

[ ded-set for 1, 2; ded-set for 3 ]
/ ˈdɛd ˈsɛt for 1, 2; ˈdɛd ˌsɛt for 3 /
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adjective
firmly decided or determined; resolved: His family was dead set against the marriage.
noun
a serious or determined attempt; firm effort: He made a dead set at winning the championship.
Hunting. the stiff posture assumed by a hunting dog in indicating the presence and location of game.
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Origin of dead set

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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British Dictionary definitions for dead set

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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