settat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, literary, occasionally financial/legal.
Quick answer
What does “settat” mean?
To value, estimate, or price something at a particular amount.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To value, estimate, or price something at a particular amount; to place a specific monetary value on an object or service.
To establish a psychological or emotional value on something (e.g., to set one's sights at a particular goal). More commonly used in the phrase 'set at naught/ nought' meaning to regard as worthless or of no importance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The 'naught' spelling is British; 'nought' is also used in the UK. The 'disregard' sense is more likely found in older British literary texts. The 'value' sense is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Formal, precise, somewhat old-fashioned. In financial contexts, it implies an official or authoritative valuation.
Frequency
Very low frequency in contemporary spoken English. Primarily encountered in written texts, legal documents, or historical/literary works.
Grammar
How to Use “settat” in a Sentence
Subject + set + Object (valued thing) + at + Complement (value/amount)Subject + set + Object (advice/rules) + at naughtVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “settat” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The jeweller set the ring at a modest valuation.
- He set all her good advice at nought.
American English
- The insurer set the damage at $15,000.
- They set the rules at naught and did as they pleased.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The assets were set at five million pounds for the audit.
Academic
The historian argued that the treaty set the king's authority at naught.
Everyday
(Rare in casual conversation. Might be used humorously) 'I'd set his cooking skills at about a 2 out of 10.'
Technical
The initial parameters are set at default values.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “settat”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “settat”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “settat”
- Using 'set on' instead of 'set at' for valuation ('They set the price on $100' is incorrect).
- Using the modern 'set at' in casual speech where 'priced at' or 'valued at' is more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's quite rare in modern everyday English. You'll most likely encounter it in financial, legal, or literary contexts.
They are synonyms in the valuation sense, but 'price at' is far more common in commercial contexts. 'Set at' can sound more formal or authoritative.
It's a fixed literary phrase meaning 'to consider worthless'. Structure: Subject + set + [object, e.g., advice, warnings, tradition] + at naught/nought.
Yes, though rarely. You can metaphorically 'set your hopes at' a certain level or 'set a difficulty level at' hard. The core idea is assigning a specific point on a scale.
To value, estimate, or price something at a particular amount.
Settat is usually formal, literary, occasionally financial/legal. in register.
Settat: in British English it is pronounced /ˌset ˈæt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɛt ˈæt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Set at naught/nought: To treat as unimportant or worthless.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a **SET** of antique plates with a price tag (**AT**) a specific value.
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUE IS POSITION (placing a value on a scale). DISRESPECT IS ERASING/NULLIFYING (setting to zero/naught).
Practice
Quiz
What does the phrase 'to set at naught' primarily express?