Saint Elizabeth Ann (Bayley) Mother Seton, 1774–1821, U.S. educator, social-welfare reformer, and religious leader: first native-born American to be canonized (1975).
Ernest Thompson, 1860–1946, English writer and illustrator in the U.S.
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin sētōn- (stem of sētō ), equivalent to sēt ( a ) seta + -ōn- noun suffix
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A seton was a long strip of linen or cotton thread passed through the skin by a seton needle.
From Bloodletting Instruments in the National Museum of History and Technology by Appel, Toby
He used the seton and the cautery, which was much in vogue in his day, especially in cases of paralysis.
From Outlines of Greek and Roman Medicine by Elliott, James Sands
After-treatment consists simply in moving the seton daily, and dressing it occasionally with any stimulating ointment, or with turpentine.
From Diseases of the Horse's Foot by Reeks, Harry Caulton
These may be either long or short, straight or curved, according to the locality in which a seton is to be inserted.
From Special Report on Diseases of Cattle by United States. Bureau of Animal Industry
He does not recommend the operation, as usually preferable to the seton, for which, the profession is indebted to Dr. Physick; but as an additional expedient, when other means fail.—Med.
From North American Medical and Surgical Journal, Vol. 2, No. 3, July, 1826 by Bache, Franklin
As the unfiltered Linda, Ms. Gangel might almost have been cast for her Hepburnesque, chisel-sharp cheekbones, but she brings wry humor to Linda’s half-serious, or mostly serious, critiques of the Seton ethos.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 19, 2026
Attorneys from the ACLU, Seton Hall University and the Center for Constitutional Rights are representing the families in Massachusetts federal district court.
From Salon ● Jan. 27, 2026
Seton Hunt told jurors that this was not a complicated case.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2025
“There are lots of conservative legal organizations out there,” said Thomas Healy, a professor of law at Seton Hall University.
From New York Times ● Mar. 21, 2024
Seton made his estimate in 1929, and it is still widely quoted today.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
