stet

American  

[stet] / stɛt /

verb (used without object)

stets, present (3rd person singular) stetted, past participle, past stetting present participle

1. let it stand (used imperatively as a direction on a printer's proof, manuscript, or the like, to retain material previously cancelled, usually accompanied by a row of dots under or beside the material).

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verb (used with object)

stets, present (3rd person singular) stetted, past participle, past stetting present participle

1. to mark (a manuscript, printer's proof, etc.) with the word “stet” or with dots as a direction to let cancelled material remain.

stet British  

/ stɛt /

noun

1. a word or mark indicating that certain deleted typeset or written matter is to be retained Compare dele

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verb

1. (tr) to mark (matter to be retained) with a stet

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have stetted
  perfect
• has stetted
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been stetting
  perfect progressive
• stetting
  participle
• has been stetting
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is stetting
  progressive 3rd person singular
• stets
  singular 3rd person
• am stetting
  progressive 1st person singular
• are stetting
  progressive

Past

• had stetted
  perfect
• was stetting
  progressive singular
• had been stetting
  perfect progressive
• were stetting
  progressive plural
• stetted
  participle
• stetted
  simple

Future

• will stet
  simple
• will have stetted
  perfect
• will be stetting
  progressive
• will have been stetting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of stet

1815–25; < Latin stēt, present subjunctive 3rd person singular of stāre to stand

Example Sentences

Luckily, she was kind, and if you changed it she would just change it back and stet it without upbraiding you.

From The New Yorker • Feb. 16, 2015

When a word or words have been struck out, and it is subsequently decided that they shall remain, make dots under them, and write the word stet in the margin.

From "Stops", Or How to Punctuate A Practical Handbook for Writers and Students by Allardyce, Paul

The Crown retired from the suit with a stet processus and Mr. Bradlaugh was left with the laurels—and his costs.

From Reminiscences Of Charles Bradlaugh by Foote, G. W. (George William)

She's like a Corrected proof marked stet, O. K.— And yet she loves me, fatface Pica!

From Chimneysmoke by Morley, Christopher

Compare Hor AP 68-69 'mortalia facta peribunt, / nedum sermonum stet honos et gratia uiuax'.

From The Last Poems of Ovid by Akrigg, Mark Bear