settee
/sɛˈtiː/
noun
Origin
Old English
setl — seat
Overview
Meaning Now
- A long seat with a back and arms, typically upholstered and designed to accommodate more than one person.
Language path
Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
settee
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term emerged in the 17th century, likely as a structural evolution of the earlier 'settle', a long wooden bench with a high back, which was adapted into upholstered forms for comfort in parlours and drawing rooms.
Evolution
- Old English
setl
“seat, bench”
- Middle English
setel
“a place to sit”
- 17th century
settee
“a long seat with a back”
Diminutive or elaborated form influenced by English patterns of word formation.
Connections
Word parts
set
root
to sit
tee
suffix
diminutive or ornamental suffix
Related across languages
German
Sessel
armchair
Dutch
zetel
seat
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Related to settee
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.