setter-on
Definition
- Noun:
- An instigator or inciter: "setter-on" refers to a person who urges or encourages someone else to take a particular action, often of a negative or provocative nature. This word is archaic and rarely used in modern English.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- He was the setter-on of the quarrel, whispering insults to both parties. (He was the person who incited the argument.)
- The court identified the setter-on as the one who had prompted the attack. (The instigator was found to have encouraged the assault.)
Advanced Usage
Historical context: In literature from the 16th to 19th centuries, "setter-on" often appears in legal or moral discussions about blame and responsibility.
- Shakespeare's plays sometimes feature a setter-on who manipulates others into conflict. (A character who incites trouble.)
"to act as a setter-on": to serve as an instigator.
- He was accused of acting as a setter-on in the riot. (He was blamed for encouraging the disorder.)
Variants and Related Words
- Setter (n): a person or thing that sets; also, a hunting dog trained to point out game.
- The setter flushed out the birds. (The dog was used for hunting.)
- Set-on (adj): determined or resolved to do something (not directly related to "setter-on").
- She was set-on finishing the project. (She was determined.)
Synonyms
- Instigator: a person who provokes or starts an action.
- Inciter: someone who urges others to do something, especially something wrong.
- Provoker: one who deliberately causes a reaction.
Phrasal Verbs
- Set on (phrasal verb): to attack or urge someone to attack.
- The dog was set on the intruder. (The dog was commanded to attack.)
- He set his friends on the rival gang. (He encouraged his friends to attack.)
Related Idioms
- To set someone on: to encourage or direct someone to attack or confront another.
- She set her lawyer on the company for breach of contract. (She instructed her lawyer to take legal action.)