- settle (v.)
- "come to rest," Old English setlan, from setl "a seat" (see settle (n.)). Sense of "establish a permanent residence" first recorded 1620s; that of "decide" is 1620s. Meaning "reconcile" (a quarrel, differences, etc.) perhaps is influenced by Middle English sahtlen "to reconcile," from Old English saht "reconciliation," from Old Norse satt "reconciliation." Related: Settling. Settled "firmly fixed" is attested from 1550s.
- settle (n.)
- "long bench," Old English setl "a seat, position, abode," related to sittan "to sit," from Proto-Germanic *setla- (cf. Middle Low German, Middle Dutch setel, Dutch zetel, German Sessel, Gothic sitls), from PIE *sedla- (cf. Latin sella "seat, chair," Old Church Slavonic sedlo "saddle," Old English sadol "saddle"), from root *sed- "to sit" (see sedentary).