settle: [OE] Although now far less common, the noun settle ‘bench’ is older than the verb, and indeed was the source of it. It evolved (along with German sessel) from a prehistoric Germanic *setlaz, which was derived from the same base that produced English sit. (Saddle comes from a variant of the same base.) In Old English times it was setl, and still meant simply ‘seat’. This formed the basis of a verb setlan ‘put in a position of repose’, ancestor of modern English settle. => saddle, sit
settle (v.)
"come to rest," Old English setlan "cause to sit, place, put," from setl "a seat" (see settle (n.)). Related: Settling. Compare German siedeln "to settle, colonize."
From c. 1300 of birds, etc., "to alight." From early 14c. as "sink down, descend; cave in." Early 15c. in reference to suspended particles in a liquid. Sense of "establish a permanent residence" first recorded 1620s; that of "decide" is 1620s. Meaning "secure title to by deed" is from 1660s.
Meaning "reconcile" (a quarrel, differences, etc.) perhaps is influenced by Middle English sahtlen "to reconcile," from Old English saht "reconciliation," from Old Norse satt "reconciliation." To settle down "become content" is from 1853; transitive sense from 1520s; as what married couples do in establishing domesticity, from 1718. To settle for "content oneself with" is from 1943.
settle (n.)
"long bench," 1550s, from Middle English setle "a seat," from Old English setl "a seat, stall; position, abode; setting of a heavenly body," related to sittan "to sit," from Proto-Germanic *setla- (cognates: Middle Low German, Middle Dutch setel, Dutch zetel, German Sessel, Gothic sitls), from PIE *sedla- (cognates: Latin sella "seat, chair," Old Church Slavonic sedlo "saddle," Old English sadol "saddle"), from root *sed- (1) "to sit" (see sedentary).
双语例句
1. England will have to settle for third or fourth place.
英格兰将只好接受第三或第四的排名。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The duo set up a scam to settle their respective debts.
那对搭档设了一计以消除各自的债务。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The man let his eyes settle upon Cross's face.
那名男子的目光落在了克罗斯的脸上。
来自柯林斯例句
4. They agreed to try to settle their dispute by negotiation.
他们同意通过谈判来努力解决纠纷。
来自柯林斯例句
5. He took a long time to settle in to big-time football.