settle for, settle on, settle up
这组短语的意思并不相同：settle for的意思是“(勉强)同意接受”“清理(债务等)”; settle on的意思是“决定”“给(钱、遗产等)”; settle up的意思是“付账”。
settle, decide, determine, fix, make up one's mind, resolve
这组词(组)都有“决定”的意思。它们的区别在于:
1.decide是普通用词,指经过讨论、思考消除分歧而对是非、优劣、取舍等问题“作出决定”; resolve强调信念的目的性; 而settle则强调最后的“决定”。例如:
From that moment she resolved to trace the unknown element.从那时起,她决心找出这种未知的元素。
He resolved that nothing should hold back.他决心不为任何阻碍所挫。
The heavy rain might settle the changeable weather.这场大雨也许能使变幻不定的天气稳定下来。
2.determine强调“意志坚定”“不可动摇”,也常用于科技方面通过调查或认真思考后作出“决定”或“确定”。例如:
His advice determined me against further delay.他的劝告使我决定不再拖延。
He is determined to break away all the bad habits.他决心改掉所有坏习惯。
An X-ray determined that no bones were broken.经X光测定,没有发生骨折。
3.fix指经过考虑和商议后作出决定,强调不再改变。例如:
Once the aim is fixed, we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一经确定,我们就不要随意改变。
4.make up one's mind指下决心做某事,不再改变。例如:
Have you made up your mind about it?关于这件事,你拿定主意了没有?
They have made up their minds to set off tomorrow afternoon.他们决定明天下午动身。
settle, establish, fasten, fix
这四个词的共同含义是“使稳定”“使固定”。它们的区别是：
1.fix强调使稳固于、固定于某一位置、地方或情况中,且难以改变或移动。
2.establish强调使稳固而持久地建立起。例如:
Every possibility has been exploited to establish a number of schools.利用一切可能性建立了许多学校。
The company has established a new system for dealing with complaints.这家公司建立了处理意见的新制度。
3.settle则指“将…置于稳固的、有秩序的或永远的地方或情况中”。例如:
We have settled what we'll discuss at the next meeting.我们已决定下次会议讨论什么内容。
Their grandparents settled the land in 1856.他们的祖辈于1856年在这块土地上定居下来。
4.fasten只说明“系”“(使其)固定”这一动作,不强调动作的结果。也可指因出于好奇或向某人征求意见而目不转睛地看。例如:
Please fasten the seatbelt when the plane is about to take off.飞机起飞时请系好安全带。
The stranger fastened on my arm.那个陌生人紧紧抓住我的胳膊。
His eyes fastened upon the beautiful lady.他的眼睛盯住那位美丽的妇人。
settle, calm, quieten
这三个词都有“(使)镇定”的意思。它们之间的差别是:
1.calm强调了先前混乱的状态,然后靠判断力、意志或信仰而恢复正常。
2.settle指采取某种措施、安排而平息了激动或兴奋,使思想和身体处于一种轻松状态。例如:
A vacation will settle your nerves.休假可镇定你的神经。
A word from his father was enough to settle him.他父亲的一句话就足以使他安静下来。
The music will settle my disordered brain.音乐会使我纷乱的心情得到安定。
Have a brandy. It will settle your nerves.喝点白兰地吧,它会使你镇定下来。
Her soft words settled his agitated mind.她的温柔的话语使他焦虑的思绪平静下来。
I'll read a bit before supper to settle my mind.我在晚餐之前读读书使心情平静。
3.quieten强调言谈举止方面外在的暂时平静。例如:
The children were shouting, but they soon quietened down.孩子们大叫大嚷着,但一会儿就安静了下来。
settle, solve
这两个词共同的意思是“解决问题〔纷争〕”。当宾语是argument, dispute, affair, matter等名词时多使用settle; 当宾语是equation, problem, puzzle等名词时,多使用solve。
下面4句话的意思相同：
He hopes to settle in the country.
He hopes to be settled in the country.
He hopes to settle down in the country.
He hopes to be settled down in the country.
他希望在农村安家落户。
下面两句话的意思不同：
A word from his father was enough to settle him.
他父亲一句话就足以使他安静下来。
A word from his father was enough to settle with him.
他父亲一句话就足以使他们和解。
decide，determine，resolve，settle
这些动词都含“决定”之意。
decide侧重指经过思考、比较、讨论或询问之后做出的决定。
determine指经过深思熟虑，决心去做某事并坚持施行。
resolve语气较强，强调以坚定不移的信念去做或不做某事，暗含有远大抱负和坚强决心。
settle指排除犹豫、怀疑和争论之后作出明确的最终结论。
dwell，reside，live，lodge，inhabit，settle
这些动词均有“居住、定居”之意。
dwell文学上的用词，口语中通常用live代替。
reside书面用词，指合法的永久性居住，也指在豪华的住宅里居住。
live最普通用词，指固定的居住，可以是长期的，也可以是临时的。
lodge指短时间或临时住宿。
inhabit强调人或动物居住在某个地区并已适应某种特殊环境。
settle侧重指某人定居于城市、国家或地区，而不指居住的住所。
