ppl. a.
1. Skilfully, fittingly, or happily placed, fixed, settled, arranged or adjusted.
c. 1369. Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 828. So had she Surmountyd hem all of beaute … Or stature and of well set gladnesse.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1919), vi. 25. The town & the cytee weren full wel sett in a fair contree.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 228. For that requeris obligacioun and trew consent, with wit seker and wele sett.
1475. Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.), 75. The peple that were welle set.
1513. More, in Grafton, Chron. (1568), II. 787. She verteously denied hym, but … with so good maner & words so well set, that she rather kindled his desire then quenched it.
1535. Coverdale, Isa. iii. 24. For wellset hayre there shalbe baldnesse.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XVIII. 51. Like a well-set plant In best soiles.
1635–56. Cowley, Davideis, I. 348. Above the well-set Orbs soft Harmony.
a. 1743. Savage, On False Historians, 129. Well-set in plan, and polish’d into style, Fair and more fair may finish’d fraud beguile.
1776. [see WELL-WRITTEN].
1895. Crockett, Men of Moss-hags, xxxviii. 275. The air of well-set distinction which marks the man of ancient family and life-long training in arms.
b. with on.
1639. T. de Grey, Compl. Horsem., I. iv. (1656), 41. The Trunchion small, long, well set on.
1854. Surtees, Handley Cr., i. A light, well-set-on head.
† c. Of a blow: Well planted or delivered. Obs.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, III. viii. (1912), 391. While Ismenus doubled two or three more valiant, then well set blowes.
2. Of a person, animal, the limbs: Strongly built, firmly knit.
13[?]. Guy Warw., 6015. He was michel & wele y-sett.
1530. Palsgr., 715/2. The felowe is well sette, or well pyght.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 250. This kyng Edward was … brode brested and well set.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 115. If shee be well sette, then call hir a Bosse.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 74. [Cows] Wel set and compacted legs. Ibid., 666. A thicke, round, and well set Hogge.
1666. W. Boghurst, Loimographia (1894), 25. Strong well sett men dyed commonly in two dayes.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., II. liii. 273. The Tartar was a lusty Man, and the Sailor short, but well set.
1774. Pennsylv. Gaz., 21 Dec., 4/2. Run away,… a clever smart looking boy, well set.
1883. D. C. Murray, Hearts, i. His figure was well set.
b. Now usually well set-up. (Cf. SET ppl. a. 10.)
1867. [see SET ppl. a. 10].
1869. Blackmore, Lorna D., xxvii. Very pretty damsels, and well set up.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer, xxii. The men’s … muscular, well set-up figures.
† 3. Well-disposed. Sc. Obs.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., To Rdr. Referring the well set Reader to the History it selfe.
a. 1670. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (Bannatyne Club), l. 5. The marquess of Huntly, and some weill sett freinds settled this feid.
† 4. Of wine: Matured by keeping.
1720. Ramsay, Edinb.’s Salut. Ld. Carnarvon, iv. The wale of well set ruby juice … I can afford.
5. Cricket. Said of a batsman who is playing the bowling with ease and seems unlikely to get out.
1880. J. Lillywhite’s Cricketers’ Annual, 62. There were only 49 runs left to get with six wickets to fall, one batsman thoroughly well set, and the ground by no means favourable for the bowlers.
1903. Jephson, in Hutchinson, Cricket, 112. A bowler that … might bowl a man at any period of his innings, however well set he might be.
