set on
English
Etymology
For semantic parallels, compare cognate German ansetzen; Russian насе́сть pf (naséstʹ), наседа́ть impf (nasedátʹ).
Verb
set on (third-person singular simple present sets on, present participle setting on, simple past and past participle set on)
- To attack.
- c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
- Cassio hath here been set on in the dark.
- To encourage someone, or an animal, to attack someone.
- I will set the dogs on you, if you don't leave right now!
- To be determined to do or achieve something.
- I had my mind pretty well set on working for a small company.
- 2020 June 17, Coconuts Bangkok, “Chula still set on demolishing historic shrine – once it evicts caretakers”, in coconuts.co[1], coconuts.co, retrieved 17 June 2020:
- Chula[longkorn University is] still set on demolishing historic shrine – once it evicts caretakers
Synonyms
Related terms
Translations
to attack — see attack
to encourage someone, or an animal, to attack someone — see also sic
to be determined to do or achieve something
References
- “set on”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
- William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “set on”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.