set-in
[ set-in ]
/ ˈsɛtˌɪn /
adjective
made separately and placed within another unit.
Words nearby set-in
set up shop, set upon, set width, set-aside, set-back, set-in, set-in sleeve, set-jetting, set-off, set-to, set-top box
Origin of set-in
First recorded in 1525–35; adj. use of verb phrase set in
Definition for set in (2 of 2)
Origin of set
before 900; (v.) Middle English setten, Old English settan; cognate with Old Norse setja, German setzen, Gothic satjan, all < Germanic *satjan, causative of *setjan to sit1; (noun) (in senses denoting the action of setting or the state of being set) Middle English set, set(t)e, derivative of the v. and its past participle; (in senses denoting a group) Middle English sette < Old French < Latin secta sect (in later use influenced by the v. and Middle Low German gesette set, suite)
OTHER WORDS FROM set
in·ter·set, verb (used with object), in·ter·set, in·ter·set·ting.mis·set, verb, mis·set, mis·set·ting.self-set, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH set
set sit (see usage note at the current entry)usage note for set
The verbs set and sit1 are similar in form and meaning but different in grammatical use. Set is chiefly transitive and takes an object: Set the dish on the shelf. Its past tense and past participle are also set : Yesterday he set three posts for the fence. The judge has set the date for the trial. Set also has some standard intransitive uses, as “to pass below the horizon” ( The sun sets late in the northern latitudes during the summer ) and “to become firm, solid, etc.” ( This glue sets quickly ). The use of set for sit, “to be seated,” is nonstandard: Pull up a chair and set by me.
Sit is chiefly intransitive and does not take an object: Let's sit here in the shade. Its past tense and past participle are sat : They sat at the table for nearly two hours. Have they sat down yet? Transitive uses of sit include “to cause to sit” ( Pull up a chair and sit yourself down ) and “to provide seating for” ( The waiter sat us near the window ).
Sit is chiefly intransitive and does not take an object: Let's sit here in the shade. Its past tense and past participle are sat : They sat at the table for nearly two hours. Have they sat down yet? Transitive uses of sit include “to cause to sit” ( Pull up a chair and sit yourself down ) and “to provide seating for” ( The waiter sat us near the window ).
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for set in (1 of 3)
set in
verb (intr, adverb)
to become establishedthe winter has set in
(of wind) to blow or (of current) to move towards shore
adjective set-in
(of a part) made separately and then added to a larger wholea set-in sleeve
British Dictionary definitions for set in (2 of 3)
set1
/ (sɛt) /
verb sets, setting or set (mainly tr)
noun
adjective
Word Origin for set
Old English settan, causative of sittan to sit; related to Old Frisian setta, Old High German sezzan
British Dictionary definitions for set in (3 of 3)
set2
/ (sɛt) /
noun
verb sets, setting or set
(intr) (in square dancing and country dancing) to perform a sequence of steps while facing towards another dancerset to your partners
(usually tr) to divide into setsin this school we set our older pupils for English
Word Origin for set
C14 (in the obsolete sense: a religious sect): from Old French sette, from Latin secta sect; later sense development influenced by the verb set 1
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
Medicine definitions for set in
set
[ sĕt ]
v.
n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for set in
set
[ sĕt ]
A collection of distinct elements that have something in common. In mathematics, sets are commonly represented by enclosing the members of a set in curly braces, as {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, the set of all positive integers from 1 to 5.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Idioms and Phrases with set in (1 of 2)
set in
Insert, put in, as in I still have to set in the sleeves and then the sweater will be done. [Late 1300s]
Begin to happen or become apparent, as in Darkness was setting in as I left. [c. 1700]
Move toward the shore, said of wind or water, as in The tide sets in very quickly here. [Early 1700s]
Idioms and Phrases with set in (2 of 2)
set
In addition to the idioms beginning with set
- set about
- set against
- set an example
- set apart
- set a precedent
- set aside
- set at
- set at rest
- set back
- set back on one's heels
- set back the clock
- set by
- set down
- set eyes on
- set fire to
- set foot
- set forth
- set forward
- set in
- set in motion
- set in one's ways, be
- set off
- set on
- set on a pedestal
- set one back
- set one back on one's feet
- set one's back up
- set one's cap for
- set one's face against
- set one's heart on
- set one's mind at rest
- set one's mind on
- set one's seal on
- set one's sights on
- set one's teeth on edge
- set on fire
- set out
- set right
- set sail
- set store by
- set straight
- set the pace
- set the record straight
- set the scene for
- set the table
- set the wheels in motion
- set the world on fire
- set to
- set tongues wagging
- set to rights
- set up
- set up housekeeping
- set upon
- set up shop
also see:
- all set
- dead set against
- get set
- get (set) someone's back up
- get (set) the ball rolling
- lay (set) eyes on
- on a pedestal, set
- smart set
- tongues wagging, set
Also see underput.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.