set, sit

set, sit
Predominantly a transitive verb, set means "to put," "to place": "Set the box on the floor, please." Sit is predominantly an intransitive verb with a basic meaning of "to place oneself ': "When I sit down, you come and sit beside me." Set used for sit, and sit for set, in the meanings indicated, are nonstandard. Do not say "Set yourself down" or "Sit it here."
     Both set and sit have special meanings. The following are standard usage: "The sun sets behind that mountain every afternoon." "The house sits in a valley." "Sit the baby in the chair and then set her on her feet." The following expressions involving set and sit are hackneyed: "set one's face (or one's mind) against," "set one's heart on," "set by the ears," "set one's hand to the plow," "set the world on fire," "set one's teeth on edge," "set about," "set against," "set down," "set aside," "set forth," "set in," "set off," "set apart," "set upon," "all set," "get set," "set store by," "sit in on," "sit on," "sit out," "sit pretty," "sit tight," "sit-down strike," "sit-in," and "sitting duck."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • set / sit / seat —    Set is a transitive verb meaning to put or place something solid somewhere : Marvin set his new lamp on the table.    Sit means to rest upright with the weight on the buttocks or to move into such a position ; the past tense is sat: Percy sat… …   Confused words

  • set / sit / seat —    Set is a transitive verb meaning to put or place something solid somewhere : Marvin set his new lamp on the table.    Sit means to rest upright with the weight on the buttocks or to move into such a position ; the past tense is sat: Percy sat… …   Confused words

  • set / sit / seat —    Set is a transitive verb meaning to put or place something solid somewhere : Marvin set his new lamp on the table.    Sit means to rest upright with the weight on the buttocks or to move into such a position ; the past tense is sat: Percy sat… …   Confused words

  • sit — See set. See set, sit …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • set — See set, sit …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • set — /set/, v., set, setting, n., adj., interj. v.t. 1. to put (something or someone) in a particular place: to set a vase on a table. 2. to place in a particular position or posture: Set the baby on his feet. 3. to place in some relation to something …   Universalium

  • set — [set] vt. set, setting [ME setten < OE settan (akin to Ger setzen & Goth satjan < Gmc * satjan), caus. formation “to cause to sit” < base of SIT] 1. to place in a sitting position; cause to sit; seat 2. a) to cause (a fowl) to sit on… …   English World dictionary

  • Set — (s[e^]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Set}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Setting}.] [OE. setten, AS. setton; akin to OS. settian, OFries. setta, D. zetten, OHG. sezzen, G. setzen, Icel. setja, Sw. s[ a]tta, Dan. s?tte, Goth. satjan; causative from the root of E.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Set — (s[e^]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Set}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Setting}.] [OE. setten, AS. setton; akin to OS. settian, OFries. setta, D. zetten, OHG. sezzen, G. setzen, Icel. setja, Sw. s[ a]tta, Dan. s?tte, Goth. satjan; causative from the root of E.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Set — (s[e^]t), v. i. 1. To pass below the horizon; to go down; to decline; to sink out of sight; to come to an end. [1913 Webster] Ere the weary sun set in the west. Shak. [1913 Webster] Thus this century sets with little mirth, and the next is likely …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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