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To fix beforehand; to determine; hence, to make unyielding or obstinate; to render stiff, unpliant, or rigid; as, to set one's countenance. His eyes were set by reason of his age. 1 Kings xiv. 4. On these three objects his heart was set. Macaulay. Make my heart as a millstone, set my face as a flint. Tennyson.…

To determine, as something which is exposed to doubt or question; to free from unscertainty or wavering; to make sure, firm, or constant; to establish; to compose; to quiet; as, to settle the mind when agitated; to settle questions of law; to settle the succession to a throne; to settle an allowance. It will settle the…

Amount or extent of deficiency, as determined by some requirement or standard; as, a shortage in money accounts.

An instrument or contrivance to size articles, or to determine their size by a standard, or to separate and distribute them according to size.

Anything unknown, undetermined, or not specifically designated; a certain indefinite thing; an indeterminate or unknown event; an unspecified task, work, or thing. There is something in the wind. Shak. The whole world has something to do, something to talk of, something to wish for, and something to be employed about.…

a box, and divided into different lengths at pleasure by a bridge, the place of which is determined by a scale on the face of the box.

ent group of existing things or beings, associated according to attributes, or properties determined by scientific observation.

ght, or those produced by flames in which different substances are volatilized), so as to determine, from the position of the spectral lines, the composition of the substance.

A wet meter used to determine the breathing capacity of the lungs.

un. -- On, or Upon, the spot, immediately; before moving; without changing place. It was determined upon the spot. Swift.

vement expressing contempt or dislike. Sir W. Scott. -- To square the circle (Math.), to determine the exact contents of a circle in square measure. The solution of this famous problem is now generally admitted to be impossible.

To begin to doubt and waver in purposes; to become less confident or determined; to hesitate. He [Abraham] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief. Rom. iv. 20.

One of that class of Calvinists who believed that God's decree of election determined that man should fall, in order that the opportunity might be furnished of securing the redemption of a part of the race, the decree of salvation being conceived of as formed before or beyond, and not after or following, the lapse, or…

value, etc.; to examine and ascertain the state of; as, to survey a building in order to determine its value and exposure to loss by fire.

surveying, geodesy. -- Maritime, or Nautical, surveying, that branch of surveying which determines the forms of coasts and harbors, the entrances of rivers, with the position of islands, rocks, and shoals, the depth of water, etc. -- Plane surveying. See under Plane, a. -- Topographical surveying, that branch of su…

To hold in an undetermined or undecided state; as, to suspend one's judgment or opinion. Locke.

ipts or disbursements are temporarily entered until their proper position in the books is determined.

ns (Physiol.), those functions of the body which affect its material composition and thus determine its mass.

Capacity of a turning lathe, as determined by the diameter of the largest object that can be turned in it.

oath to share together good and bad fortune; hence, faithful friends. -- Sworn enemies, determined or irreconcilable enemies. -- Sworn friends, close friends.