settled

[ set-ld ]

adjective

1. fixed or established; unlikely to change:

   Like most of us, he has settled habits and opinions.

2. agreed upon; decided:

   the rules of settled grammatical usage.

3. having inhabitants or settlers:

   settled regions of the country.

4. having a permanent residence; not wandering:

   In time the Israelites became a settled people.

Word History and Origins

Origin of settled¹

First recorded in 1550–60; settle ¹( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Synonym Study

See staid.

Example Sentences

Most had settled along the defensive or offensive fronts, where Polynesian prospects were so often penciled in.

From Los Angeles Times

“We also have been faced with the fact they’ve settled pay in England but not here, we’ve allocated 57% of the budget this week to health,” she added.

From BBC

Only terminally-ill adults with less than six months to live who have a settled wish to end their lives would be eligible under the new law.

From BBC

That lawsuit, since settled, is separate from the suit brought by the 900 officers.

From Los Angeles Times

In fact, the definition of “appropriated” was settled conclusively by the Supreme Court, in a 7-2 decision handed down in May and written by Justice Clarence Thomas.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ended
• established
• resolved