Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SET'TLE, v.t. [from set.]

1. To place in a permanent condition after wandering or fluctuation. I will settle you after your old estates. – Ezek. xxxvi.
2. To fix; to establish; to make permanent in any place. I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom for ever. – 1 Chron. xvii.
3. To establish in business or way of life; as, to settle a son in trade.
4. To marry; as, to settle a daughter.
5. To establish; to confirm. Her will alone could settle or revoke. – Prior.
6. To determine what is uncertain; to establish; to free from doubt; as, to settle questions or points of law. The supreme court have settled the question.
7. To fix; to establish; to make certain or permanent; as, to settle the succession to a throne in a particular family. So we speak of sealed habits and settled opinions.
8. To fix or establish; not to suffer to doubt or waver. It will settle the wavering and confirm the doubtful. – Swift.
9. To make close or compact. Cover ant-hills up that the rain may settle the turf before the spring. – Mortimer.
10. To cause to subside after being heaved and loosened by frost; or to dry and harden after rain. Thus clear weather settles the roads.
11. To fix or establish by gift, grant or any legal act; as, to settle a pension on an officer, or an annuity on a child.
12. To fix firmly. Settle your mind on valuable objects.
13. To cause to sink or subside, as extraneous matter in liquors. In fining wine, we add something to settle the lees.
14. To compose; to tranquilize what is disturbed; as, sells the thoughts or mind when agitated.
15. To establish in the pastoral office; to ordain over a church and society, or parish; as, to settle a minister. – United States. Boswell.
16. To plant with inhabitants; to colonize. The French first settled Canada; the Puritans settled New England. Plymouth was settled in 1620. Hartford was settled in 1636. Wethersfield was the first settled town in Connecticut. Provinces first settled after the flood. – Mitford. Land which they are unable to settle and cultivate. – Vattel, Trans.
17. To adjust; to close by amicable agreement or otherwise; as, to settle a controversy or dispute by agreement, treaty or by force.
18. To adjust; to liquidate; to balance, or to pay; as, to settle accounts. To settle the land, among seamen, to cause it to sink or appear lower by receding from it.