- It seems
- Seem Seem (s[=e]m), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Seemed} (s[=e]md); p.
pr. & vb. n. {Seeming}.] [OE. semen to seem, to become,
befit, AS. s[=e]man to satisfy, pacify; akin to Icel. s[ae]ma
to honor, to bear with, conform to, s[ae]mr becoming, fit,
s[=o]ma to beseem, to befit, sama to beseem, semja to
arrange, settle, put right, Goth. samjan to please, and to E.
same. The sense is probably due to the adj. seemly.
[root]191. See {Same}, a., and cf. {Seemly}.]
To appear, or to appear to be; to have a show or semblance;
to present an appearance; to look; to strike one's
apprehension or fancy as being; to be taken as. ``It now
seemed probable.'' --Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
Thou picture of what thou seem'st. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
All seemed well pleased; all seemed, but were not all. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death. --Prov. xiv. 12. [1913 Webster]
{It seems}, it appears; it is understood as true; it is said. [1913 Webster]
A prince of Italy, it seems, entertained his mistress on a great lake. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
Syn: To appear; look.
Usage: {Seem}, {Appear}. To appear has reference to a thing's being presented to our view; as, the sun appears; to seem is connected with the idea of semblance, and usually implies an inference of our mind as to the probability of a thing's being so; as, a storm seems to be coming. ``The story appears to be true,'' means that the facts, as presented, go to show its truth; ``the story seems to be true,'' means that it has the semblance of being so, and we infer that it is true. ``His first and principal care being to appear unto his people such as he would have them be, and to be such as he appeared.'' --Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster]
Ham. Ay, madam, it is common. Queen. If it be, Why seems it so particular with thee? Ham. Seems, madam! Nay, it is; I know not ``seems.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.