set on

See also: seton and séton

English

Etymology

For semantic parallels, compare cognate 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)

1. 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.

2. To encourage someone, or an animal, to attack someone.

   I will set the dogs on you, if you don't leave right now!

3. 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 2020-06-17:

     Chula[longkorn University is] still set on demolishing historic shrine – once it evicts caretakers

Synonyms

• set upon

Related terms

• onset

Translations

to attack — see attack

to encourage someone, or an animal, to attack someone

• Azerbaijani: saldırmaq
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 放 (zh) (fàng), 讓 / 让 (zh) (ràng)

• Finnish: usuttaa kimppuun
• Spanish: azuzar (es) (dog)

to be determined to do or achieve something

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 決心 / 决心 (zh) (juéxīn), 決定 / 决定 (zh) (juédìng)

• Finnish: aikoa (fi), olla päättänyt
• Spanish: please add this translation if you can

References

• “set on”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• “set on”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• 'onest, ETNOs, Eston, SONET, Stone, notes, onest, onset, steno, steno-, stone, tones