SET ON

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does set on mean? 

• SET ON (verb)
  The verb SET ON has 1 sense:

1. attack someone physically or emotionally

  Familiarity information: SET ON used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SET ON (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Attack someone physically or emotionally

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

assail; assault; attack; set on

Context example:

Nightmares assailed him regularly

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "set on"):

bait (attack with dogs or set dogs upon)

set; sic (urge to attack someone)

bulldog (attack viciously and ferociously)

rush (attack suddenly)

blindside (attack or hit on or from the side where the attacked person's view is obstructed)

savage (attack brutally and fiercely)

reassail (assail again)

jump (make a sudden physical attack on)

beset; set upon (assail or attack on all sides:)

assault; dishonor; dishonour; outrage; rape; ravish; violate (force (someone) to have sex against their will)

desecrate; outrage; profane; violate (violate the sacred character of a place or language)

molest (harass or assault sexually; make indecent advances to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

 Context examples 

But this time I was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to prevent?

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I read my little book, felt better, resolved not to let the sun set on my anger, and ran over to tell Laurie I was sorry.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

What he told me in the next hour, I cannot bring my mind to set on paper.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Arthur took the stake and the hammer, and when once his mind was set on action his hands never trembled nor even quivered.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Art so set on plunder then?

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As we severally pushed away our plates, he noiselessly removed them, and set on the cheese.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

That upon a quarrel among us, I was set on shore on this coast, where I walked forward, without knowing whither, till he delivered me from the persecution of those execrable Yahoos.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

He was tricked out in his best; an immense blue coat, thick with brass buttons, hung as low as to his knees, and a fine laced hat was set on the back of his head.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

In his company, my first business was to go to that part of the coast where my rebellious crew had ordered me to be set on shore.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

After which she gently chid her daughter Annie, for not being more demonstrative when such kindnesses were showered, for her sake, on her old playfellow; and entertained us with some particulars concerning other deserving members of her family, whom it was desirable to set on their deserving legs.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)