\Set\, n.
1. (Textiles) Any of various standards of measurement of the
   fineness of cloth; specif., the number of reeds in one
   inch and the number of threads in each reed. The exact
   meaning varies according to the location where it is used.
   Sometimes written {sett}.
2. A stone, commonly of granite, shaped like a short brick
   and usually somewhat larger than one, used for street
   paving. Commonly written {sett}.
3. Camber of a curved roofing tile.
4. The manner, state, or quality of setting or fitting; fit;
   as, the set of a coat. [Colloq.]

\Set\ (s[e^]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Set}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Setting}.] [OE. setten, AS. setton; akin to OS. settian,
OFries. setta, D. zetten, OHG. sezzen, G. setzen, Icel.
setja, Sw. s["a]tta, Dan. s?tte, Goth. satjan; causative from
the root of E. sit. [root]154. See {Sit}, and cf. {Seize}.]
1. To cause to sit; to make to assume a specified position or
   attitude; to give site or place to; to place; to put; to
   fix; as, to set a house on a stone foundation; to set a
   book on a shelf; to set a dish on a table; to set a chest
   or trunk on its bottom or on end.
         I do set my bow in the cloud.         --Gen. ix. 13.
2. Hence, to attach or affix (something) to something else,
   or in or upon a certain place.
         Set your affection on things above.   --Col. iii. 2.
         The Lord set a mark upon Cain.        --Gen. iv. 15.
3. To make to assume specified place, condition, or
   occupation; to put in a certain condition or state
   (described by the accompanying words); to cause to be.
         The Lord thy God will set thee on high. --Deut.
                                               xxviii. 1.
         I am come to set a man at variance against his
         father, and the daughter against her mother. --Matt.
                                               x. 35.
         Every incident sets him thinking.     --Coleridge.
4. To fix firmly; to make fast, permanent, or stable; to
   render motionless; to give an unchanging place, form, or
   condition to. Specifically:
   (a) To cause to stop or stick; to obstruct; to fasten to a
       spot; hence, to occasion difficulty to; to embarrass;
       as, to set a coach in the mud.
             They show how hard they are set in this
             particular.                       --Addison.
   (b) To fix beforehand; to determine; hence, to make
       unyielding or obstinate; to render stiff, unpliant, or
       rigid; as, to set one's countenance.
             His eyes were set by reason of his age. --1
                                               Kings xiv. 4.
             On these three objects his heart was set.
                                               --Macaulay.
             Make my heart as a millstone, set my face as a
             flint.                            --Tennyson.
   (c) To fix in the ground, as a post or a tree; to plant;
       as, to set pear trees in an orchard.
   (d) To fix, as a precious stone, in a border of metal; to
       place in a setting; hence, to place in or amid
       something which serves as a setting; as, to set glass
       in a sash.
             And him too rich a jewel to be set In vulgar
             metal for a vulgar use.           --Dryden.
   (e) To render stiff or solid; especially, to convert into
       curd; to curdle; as, to set milk for cheese.
5. To put into a desired position or condition; to adjust; to
   regulate; to adapt. Specifically:
   (a) To put in order in a particular manner; to prepare;
       as, to set (that is, to hone) a razor; to set a saw.
             Tables for to sette, and beddes make. --Chaucer.
   (b) To extend and bring into position; to spread; as, to
       set the sails of a ship.
   (c) To give a pitch to, as a tune; to start by fixing the
       keynote; as, to set a psalm. --Fielding.
   (d) To reduce from a dislocated or fractured state; to
       replace; as, to set a broken bone.
   (e) To make to agree with some standard; as, to set a
       watch or a clock.
   (f) (Masonry) To lower into place and fix solidly, as the
       blocks of cut stone in a structure.
6. To stake at play; to wager; to risk.
         I have set my life upon a cast, And I will stand the
         hazard of the die.                    --Shak.
7. To fit with music; to adapt, as words to notes; to prepare
   for singing.
         Set thy own songs, and sing them to thy lute.
                                               --Dryden.
8. To determine; to appoint; to assign; to fix; as, to set a
   time for a meeting; to set a price on a horse.
9. To adorn with something infixed or affixed; to stud; to
   variegate with objects placed here and there.
         High on their heads, with jewels richly set, Each
         lady wore a radiant coronet.          --Dryden.
         Pastoral dales thin set with modern farms.
                                               --Wordsworth.
10. To value; to rate; -- with at.
          Be you contented, wearing now the garland, To have
          a son set your decrees at naught.    --Shak.
          I do not set my life at a pin's fee. --Shak.
11. To point out the seat or position of, as birds, or other
    game; -- said of hunting dogs.
12. To establish as a rule; to furnish; to prescribe; to
    assign; as, to set an example; to set lessons to be
    learned.
13. To suit; to become; as, it sets him ill. [Scot.]
14. (Print.) To compose; to arrange in words, lines, etc.;
    as, to set type; to set a page.
{To set abroach}. See {Abroach}. [Obs.] --Shak.
{To set against}, to oppose; to set in comparison with, or to
   oppose to, as an equivalent in exchange; as, to set one
   thing against another.
{To set agoing}, to cause to move.
{To set apart}, to separate to a particular use; to separate
   from the rest; to reserve.
{To set a saw}, to bend each tooth a little, every alternate
   one being bent to one side, and the intermediate ones to
   the other side, so that the opening made by the saw may be
   a little wider than the thickness of the back, to prevent
   the saw from sticking.
{To set aside}.
    (a) To leave out of account; to pass by; to omit; to
        neglect; to reject; to annul.
              Setting aside all other considerations, I will
              endeavor to know the truth, and yield to that.
                                               --Tillotson.
    (b) To set apart; to reserve; as, to set aside part of
        one's income.
    (c) (Law) See under {Aside}.
{To set at defiance}, to defy.
{To set at ease}, to quiet; to tranquilize; as, to set the
   heart at ease.
{To set at naught}, to undervalue; to contemn; to despise.
   ``Ye have set at naught all my counsel.'' --Prov. i. 25.
{To set a} {trap, snare, or gin}, to put it in a proper
   condition or position to catch prey; hence, to lay a plan
   to deceive and draw another into one's power.
{To set at work}, or {To set to work}.
    (a) To cause to enter on work or action, or to direct how
        tu enter on work.
    (b) To apply one's self; -- used reflexively.
{To set before}.
    (a) To bring out to view before; to exhibit.
    (b) To propose for choice to; to offer to.
{To set by}.
    (a) To set apart or on one side; to reject.
    (b) To attach the value of (anything) to. ``I set not a
        straw by thy dreamings.'' --Chaucer.
{To set by the compass}, to observe and note the bearing or
   situation of by the compass.
{To set case}, to suppose; to assume. Cf. {Put case}, under
   {Put}, v. t. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
{To set down}.
    (a) To enter in writing; to register.
              Some rules were to be set down for the
              government of the army.          --Clarendon.
    (b) To fix; to establish; to ordain.
              This law we may name eternal, being that order
              which God . . . hath set down with himself, for
              himself to do all things by.     --Hooker.
    (c) To humiliate.
{To set eyes on}, to see; to behold; to fasten the eyes on.
{To set fire to}, or {To set on fire}, to communicate fire
   to; fig., to inflame; to enkindle the passions of; to
   irritate.
{To set flying} (Naut.), to hook to halyards, sheets, etc.,
   instead of extending with rings or the like on a stay; --
   said of a sail.
{To set forth}.
    (a) To manifest; to offer or present to view; to exhibt;
        to display.
    (b) To publish; to promulgate; to make appear. --Waller.
    (c) To send out; to prepare and send. [Obs.]
              The Venetian admiral had a fleet of sixty
              galleys, set forth by the Venetians. --Knolles.
{To set forward}.
    (a) To cause to advance.
    (b) To promote.
{To set free}, to release from confinement, imprisonment, or
   bondage; to liberate; to emancipate.
{To set in}, to put in the way; to begin; to give a start to.
   [Obs.]
         If you please to assist and set me in, I will
         recollect myself.                     --Collier.
{To set in order}, to adjust or arrange; to reduce to method.
   ``The rest will I set in order when I come.'' --1 Cor. xi.
   34.
{To set milk}.
    (a) To expose it in open dishes in order that the cream
        may rise to the surface.
    (b) To cause it to become curdled as by the action of
        rennet. See 4
    (e) .
{To set} {much, or little}, {by}, to care much, or little,
   for.
{To set of}, to value; to set by. [Obs.] ``I set not an haw
   of his proverbs.'' --Chaucer.
{To set off}.
    (a) To separate from a whole; to assign to a particular
        purpose; to portion off; as, to set off a portion of
        an estate.
    (b) To adorn; to decorate; to embellish.
              They . . . set off the worst faces with the
              best airs.                       --Addison.
    (c) To give a flattering description of.
{To set off against}, to place against as an equivalent; as,
   to set off one man's services against another's.
{To set} {on or upon}.
    (a) To incite; to instigate. ``Thou, traitor, hast set on
        thy wife to this.'' --Shak.
    (b) To employ, as in a task. `` Set on thy wife to
        observe.'' --Shak.
    (c) To fix upon; to attach strongly to; as, to set one's
        heart or affections on some object. See definition 2,
        above.
{To set one's cap for}. See under {Cap}, n.
{To set one's self against}, to place one's self in a state
   of enmity or opposition to.
{To set one's teeth}, to press them together tightly.
{To set on foot}, to set going; to put in motion; to start.
{To set out}.
    (a) To assign; to allot; to mark off; to limit; as, to
        set out the share of each proprietor or heir of an
        estate; to set out the widow's thirds.
    (b) To publish, as a proclamation. [Obs.]
    (c) To adorn; to embellish.
              An ugly woman, in rich habit set out with
              jewels, nothing can become.      --Dryden.
    (d) To raise, equip, and send forth; to furnish. [R.]
              The Venetians pretend they could set out, in
              case of great necessity, thirty men-of-war.
                                               --Addison.
    (e) To show; to display; to recommend; to set off.
              I could set out that best side of Luther.
                                               --Atterbury.
    (f) To show; to prove. [R.] ``Those very reasons set out
        how heinous his sin was.'' --Atterbury.
    (g) (Law) To recite; to state at large.
{To set over}.
    (a) To appoint or constitute as supervisor, inspector,
        ruler, or commander.
    (b) To assign; to transfer; to convey.
{To set right}, to correct; to put in order.
{To set sail}. (Naut.) See under {Sail}, n.
{To set store by}, to consider valuable.
{To set the fashion}, to determine what shall be the fashion;
   to establish the mode.
{To set the teeth on edge}, to affect the teeth with a
   disagreeable sensation, as when acids are brought in
   contact with them.
{To set the watch} (Naut.), to place the starboard or port
   watch on duty.
{To set to}, to attach to; to affix to. ``He . . . hath set
   to his seal that God is true.'' --John iii. 33.
{To set up}. (a) To erect; to raise; to elevate; as, to set
   up a building, or a machine; to set up a post, a wall, a
   pillar.
    (b) Hence, to exalt; to put in power. ``I will . . . set
        up the throne of David over Israel.'' --2 Sam. iii.
        10.
    (c) To begin, as a new institution; to institute; to
        establish; to found; as, to set up a manufactory; to
        set up a school.
    (d) To enable to commence a new business; as, to set up a
        son in trade.
    (e) To place in view; as, to set up a mark.
    (f) To raise; to utter loudly; as, to set up the voice.
              I'll set up such a note as she shall hear.
                                               --Dryden.
    (g) To advance; to propose as truth or for reception; as,
        to set up a new opinion or doctrine. --T. Burnet.
    (h) To raise from depression, or to a sufficient fortune;
        as, this good fortune quite set him up.
    (i) To intoxicate. [Slang]
    (j) (Print.) To put in type; as, to set up copy; to
        arrange in words, lines, etc., ready for printing;
        as, to set up type.
{To set up the rigging} (Naut.), to make it taut by means of
   tackles. --R. H. Dana, Jr.
Syn: See {Put}.

\Set\ (s[e^]t), v. i.
1. To pass below the horizon; to go down; to decline; to sink
   out of sight; to come to an end.
         Ere the weary sun set in the west.    --Shak.
         Thus this century sets with little mirth, and the
         next is likely to arise with more mourning.
                                               --Fuller.
2. To fit music to words. [Obs.] --Shak.
3. To place plants or shoots in the ground; to plant. ``To
   sow dry, and set wet.'' --Old Proverb.
4. To be fixed for growth; to strike root; to begin to
   germinate or form; as, cuttings set well; the fruit has
   set well (i. e., not blasted in the blossom).
5. To become fixed or rigid; to be fastened.
         A gathering and serring of the spirits together to
         resist, maketh the teeth to set hard one against
         another.                              --Bacon.
6. To congeal; to concrete; to solidify.
         That fluid substance in a few minutes begins to set.
                                               --Boyle.
7. To have a certain direction in motion; to flow; to move
   on; to tend; as, the current sets to the north; the tide
   sets to the windward.
8. To begin to move; to go out or forth; to start; -- now
   followed by out.
         The king is set from London.          --Shak.
9. To indicate the position of game; -- said of a dog; as,
   the dog sets well; also, to hunt game by the aid of a
   setter.
10. To apply one's self; to undertake earnestly; -- now
    followed by out.
          If he sets industriously and sincerely to perform
          the commands of Christ, he can have no ground of
          doubting but it shall prove successful to him.
                                               --Hammond.
11. To fit or suit one; to sit; as, the coat sets well.
Note: [Colloquially used, but improperly, for sit.]
Note: The use of the verb set for sit in such expressions as,
      the hen is setting on thirteen eggs; a setting hen,
      etc., although colloquially common, and sometimes
      tolerated in serious writing, is not to be approved.
{To set about}, to commence; to begin.
{To set forward}, to move or march; to begin to march; to
   advance.
{To set forth}, to begin a journey.
{To set in}.
    (a) To begin; to enter upon a particular state; as,
        winter set in early.
    (b) To settle one's self; to become established. ``When
        the weather was set in to be very bad.'' --Addison.
    (c) To flow toward the shore; -- said of the tide.
{To set off}.
    (a) To enter upon a journey; to start.
    (b) (Typog.) To deface or soil the next sheet; -- said of
        the ink on a freshly printed sheet, when another
        sheet comes in contact with it before it has had time
        to dry.
{To set on} or {upon}.
    (a) To begin, as a journey or enterprise; to set about.
              He that would seriously set upon the search of
              truth.                           --Locke.
    (b) To assault; to make an attack. --Bacon.
              Cassio hath here been set on in the dark.
                                               --Shak.
{To set out}, to begin a journey or course; as, to set out
   for London, or from London; to set out in business;to set
   out in life or the world.
{To set to}, to apply one's self to.
{To set up}.
    (a) To begin business or a scheme of life; as, to set up
        in trade; to set up for one's self.
    (b) To profess openly; to make pretensions.
              Those men who set up for mortality without
              regard to religion, are generally but virtuous
              in part.                         --Swift.

\Set\, a.
1. Fixed in position; immovable; rigid; as, a set line; a set
   countenance.
2. Firm; unchanging; obstinate; as, set opinions or
   prejudices.
3. Regular; uniform; formal; as, a set discourse; a set
   battle. ``The set phrase of peace.'' --Shak.
4. Established; prescribed; as, set forms of prayer.
5. Adjusted; arranged; formed; adapted.
{Set hammer}.
   (a) A hammer the head of which is not tightly fastened
       upon the handle, but may be reversed. --Knight.
   (b) A hammer with a concave face which forms a die for
       shaping anything, as the end of a bolt, rivet, etc.
{Set line}, a line to which a number of baited hooks are
   attached, and which, supported by floats and properly
   secured, may be left unguarded during the absence of the
   fisherman.
{Set nut}, a jam nut or lock nut. See under {Nut}.
{Set screw} (Mach.), a screw, sometimes cupped or printed at
   one end, and screwed through one part, as of a machine,
   tightly upon another part, to prevent the one from
   slipping upon the other.
{Set speech}, a speech carefully prepared before it is
   delivered in public; a formal or methodical speech.

\Set\, n.
1. The act of setting, as of the sun or other heavenly body;
   descent; hence, the close; termination. ``Locking at the
   set of day.'' --Tennyson.
         The weary sun hath made a golden set. --Shak.
2. That which is set, placed, or fixed. Specifically:
   (a) A young plant for growth; as, a set of white thorn.
   (b) That which is staked; a wager; a venture; a stake;
       hence, a game at venture. [Obs. or R.]
             We will in France, by God's grace, play a set
             Shall strike his father's crown into the hazard.
                                               --Shak.
             That was but civil war, an equal set. --Dryden.
   (c) (Mech.) Permanent change of figure in consequence of
       excessive strain, as from compression, tension,
       bending, twisting, etc.; as, the set of a spring.
   (d) A kind of punch used for bending, indenting, or giving
       shape to, metal; as, a saw set.
   (e) (Pile Driving) A piece placed temporarily upon the
       head of a pile when the latter cannot be reached by
       the weight, or hammer, except by means of such an
       intervening piece. [Often incorrectly written {sett}.]
   (f) (Carp.) A short steel spike used for driving the head
       of a nail below the surface.
3. [Perhaps due to confusion with sect, sept.] A number of
   things of the same kind, ordinarily used or classed
   together; a collection of articles which naturally
   complement each other, and usually go together; an
   assortment; a suit; as, a set of chairs, of china, of
   surgical or mathematical instruments, of books, etc. [In
   this sense, sometimes incorrectly written {sett}.]
4. A number of persons associated by custom, office, common
   opinion, quality, or the like; a division; a group; a
   clique. ``Others of our set.'' --Tennyson.
         This falls into different divisions, or sets, of
         nations connected under particular religions. --R.
                                               P. Ward.
5. Direction or course; as, the set of the wind, or of a
   current.
6. In dancing, the number of persons necessary to execute a
   quadrille; also, the series of figures or movements
   executed.
7. The deflection of a tooth, or of the teeth, of a saw,
   which causes the the saw to cut a kerf, or make an
   opening, wider than the blade.
8.
   (a) A young oyster when first attached.
   (b) Collectively, the crop of young oysters in any
       locality.
9. (Tennis) A series of as many games as may be necessary to
   enable one side to win six. If at the end of the tenth
   game the score is a tie, the set is usually called a deuce
   set, and decided by an application of the rules for
   playing off deuce in a game. See {Deuce}.
10. (Type Founding) That dimension of the body of a type
    called by printers the width.
{Dead set}.
    (a) The act of a setter dog when it discovers the game,
        and remains intently fixed in pointing it out.
    (b) A fixed or stationary condition arising from obstacle
        or hindrance; a deadlock; as, to be at a dead set.
    (c) A concerted scheme to defraud by gaming; a determined
        onset.
{To make a dead set}, to make a determined onset, literally
   or figuratively.
Syn: Collection; series; group. See {Pair}.