settle

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To end an argument or problem by reaching a final decision.

   They met to settle the dispute once and for all.

2. 2
   verb

   To go to live in a place permanently.

   After years of travelling, they settled in a small village.

3. 3
   verb

   To accept something even though it is not quite what you wanted.

   We couldn't afford the house we loved, so we settled for a smaller one.

4. 4
   verb

   To come to rest gently on a surface.

   Dust settled on the roofs after the storm passed.

5. 5
   verb

   To pay money that is owed, such as a bill or debt.

   He settled the bill before leaving the restaurant.

Common collocations

• settle a bill Verb + noun
• settle the matter Verb + noun

From a merger of two verbs: * Middle English setlen, from Old English setlan (“to settle, seat, put to rest”), from Old English setl (“seat”) (compare Dutch zetelen (“to be established, settle”)) and * Middle English sahtlen, seihtlen (“to reconcile, calm, subside”), from Old English sahtlian, ġesehtlian (“to reconcile”), from Old English saht, seht (“settlement, agreement, reconciliation, peace”) (see saught, -le). German siedeln (“to settle”) is related to the former of the two verbs, but is not an immediate cognate of either of them.

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images