And he settled his countenance steadfastly upon him,
until he was ashamed. --2 Kings
viii. 11.
(Rev. Ver.)
The father thought the time drew on Of setting in
the world his only son. --Dryden.
2. To establish in the pastoral office; to ordain or install
as pastor or rector of a church, society, or parish; as,
to settle a minister. [U. S.]
3. To cause to be no longer in a disturbed condition; to
render quiet; to still; to calm; to compose.
God settled then the huge whale-bearing lake.
--Chapman.
Hoping that sleep might settle his brains. --Bunyan.
4. To clear of dregs and impurities by causing them to sink;
to render pure or clear; -- said of a liquid; as, to
settle coffee, or the grounds of coffee.
5. To restore or bring to a smooth, dry, or passable
condition; -- said of the ground, of roads, and the like;
as, clear weather settles the roads.
6. To cause to sink; to lower; to depress; hence, also, to
render close or compact; as, to settle the contents of a
barrel or bag by shaking it.
7. To determine, as something which is exposed to doubt or
question; to free from unscertainty or wavering; to make
sure, firm, or constant; to establish; to compose; to
quiet; as, to settle the mind when agitated; to settle
questions of law; to settle the succession to a throne; to
settle an allowance.
It will settle the wavering, and confirm the
doubtful. --Swift.
8. To adjust, as something in discussion; to make up; to
compose; to pacify; as, to settle a quarrel.
9. To adjust, as accounts; to liquidate; to balance; as, to
settle an account.
10. Hence, to pay; as, to settle a bill. [Colloq.] --Abbott.
11. To plant with inhabitants; to colonize; to people; as,
the French first settled Canada; the Puritans settled New
England; Plymouth was settled in 1620.
{To settle on} or {upon}, to confer upon by permanent grant;
to assure to. ``I . . . have settled upon him a good
annuity.'' --Addison.
{To settle the land} (Naut.), to cause it to sink, or appear
lower, by receding from it.
Syn: To fix; establish; regulate; arrange; compose; adjust;
determine; decide.