See

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

See, n. [OE. se, see, OF. se, sed, sied, fr. L. sedes a seat, or the kindred sedere to sit. See Sit, and cf. Siege.].

•  A seat; a site; a place where sovereign power is exercised.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]

  "Jove laughed on Venus from his sovereign see."  [1913 Webster]
•  The seat of episcopal power; a diocese; the jurisdiction of a bishop; as, the see of New York.  [1913 Webster]

Apostolic see. See under Apostolic.

See, v. t. [OE. seen, sen, seon, AS. seón; akin to OFries. sīa, D. zien, OS. & OHG. sehan, G. sehen, Icel. sjā, Sw. se, Dan. see, Goth. saíhwan, and probably to L. sequi to follow (and so originally meaning, to follow with the eyes). Gr. "e`pesqai, Skr. sac. Cf. Sight, Sue to follow.].

•  To perceive by the eye; to have knowledge of the existence and apparent qualities of by the organs of sight; to behold; to descry; to view.  [1913 Webster]

  "I will now turn aside, and see this great sight."  [1913 Webster]
•  To perceive by mental vision; to form an idea or conception of; to note with the mind; to observe; to discern; to distinguish; to understand; to comprehend; to ascertain.  [1913 Webster]

  "Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren."  [1913 Webster]

  "Jesus saw that he answered discreetly."  [1913 Webster]

  "Who's so gross
  That seeth not this palpable device?"  [1913 Webster]
•  To follow with the eyes, or as with the eyes; to watch; to regard attentively; to look after.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "I had a mind to see him out, and therefore did not care for contradicting him."  [1913 Webster]
•  To have an interview with; especially, to make a call upon; to visit; as, to go to see a friend.  [1913 Webster]

  "And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death."  [1913 Webster]
•  To fall in with; to meet or associate with; to have intercourse or communication with; hence, to have knowledge or experience of; as, to see military service.  [1913 Webster]

  "Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil."  [1913 Webster]

  "Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death."  [1913 Webster]

  "Improvement in wisdom and prudence by seeing men."  [1913 Webster]
•  To accompany in person; to escort; to wait upon; as, to see one home; to see one aboard the cars.  [1913 Webster]
•  In poker and similar games at cards, to meet (a bet), or to equal the bet of (a player), by staking the same sum.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

God you see (or God him see or God me see, etc.), God keep you (him, me, etc.) in his sight; God protect you. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- To see (anything) out, to see (it) to the end; to be present at, work at, or attend, to the end. -- To see stars, to see flashes of light, like stars; -- sometimes the result of concussion of the head. [Colloq.] -- To see (one) through, to help, watch, or guard (one) to the end of a course or an undertaking.

See, v. i. 

•  To have the power of sight, or of perceiving by the proper organs; to possess or employ the sense of vision; as, he sees distinctly.  [1913 Webster]

  "Whereas I was blind, now I see."  [1913 Webster]
•  Figuratively: To have intellectual apprehension; to perceive; to know; to understand; to discern; -- often followed by a preposition, as through, or into.  [1913 Webster]

  "For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind."  [1913 Webster]

  "Many sagacious persons will find us out, . . . and see through all our fine pretensions."  [1913 Webster]
•  To be attentive; to take care; to give heed; -- generally with to; as, to see to the house.  [1913 Webster]

  " Let me see, Let us see, are used to express consideration, or to introduce the particular consideration of a subject, or some scheme or calculation."  [1913 Webster]

  " See is sometimes used in the imperative for look, or behold. “See. see! upon the banks of Boyne he stands.”"  Halifax.  [1913 Webster]

  "See that ye fall not out by the way."  [1913 Webster]

  "Cassio's a proper man, let me see now, -
  To get his place."  [1913 Webster]

To see about a thing, to pay attention to it; to consider it. -- To see on, to look at. [Obs.] “She was full more blissful on to see.” Chaucer. -- To see to. (a) To look at; to behold; to view. [Obs.] “An altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to” Josh. xxii. 10. (b) To take care about; to look after; as, to see to a fire.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

See, v. (past saw; past part. seen)
1 tr. discern by use of the eyes; observe; look at (can you see that spider?; saw him fall over).
2 intr. have or use the power of discerning objects with the eyes (sees best at night).
3 tr. discern mentally; understand (I see what you mean; could not see the joke).
4 tr. watch; be a spectator of (a film, game, etc.).
5 tr. ascertain or establish by inquiry or research or reflection (I will see if the door is open).
6 tr. consider; deduce from observation (I see that you are a brave man).
7 tr. contemplate; foresee mentally (we saw that no good would come of it; can see myself doing this job indefinitely).
8 tr. look at for information (usu. in imper. as a direction in or to a book: see page 15).
9 tr. meet or be near and recognize (I saw your mother in town).
10 tr. a meet socially (sees her sister most weeks). b meet regularly as a boyfriend or girlfriend; court (is still seeing that tall man).
11 tr. give an interview to (the doctor will see you now).
12 tr. visit to consult (went to see the doctor).
13 tr. find out or learn, esp. from a visual source (I see the match has been cancelled).
14 intr. reflect; consider further; wait until one knows more (we shall have to see).
15 tr. interpret or have an opinion of (I see things differently now).
16 tr. experience; have presented to one's attention (I never thought I would see this day).
17 tr. recognize as acceptable; foresee (do you see your daughter marrying this man?).
18 tr. observe without interfering (stood by and saw them squander my money).
19 tr. find attractive (can't think what she sees in him).
20 intr. (usu. foll. by to, or that + infin.) make provision for; ensure; attend to (shall see to your request immediately; see that he gets home safely) (cf. see to it).
21 tr. escort or conduct (to a place etc.) (saw them home).
22 tr. be a witness of (an event etc.) (see the New Year in).
23 tr. supervise (an action etc.) (will stay and see the doors locked).
24 tr. a (in gambling, esp. poker) equal (a bet). b equal the bet of (a player), esp. to see the player's cards.

Idiom

as far as I can see to the best of my understanding or belief. as I see it in my opinion. do you see? do you understand? has seen better days has declined from former prosperity, good condition, etc. I'll be seeing you colloq. an expression on parting. I see I understand (referring to an explanation etc.). let me see an appeal for time to think before speaking etc. see about attend to. see after
1 take care of.
2 = see about. see the back of colloq. be rid of (an unwanted person or thing). see a person damned first colloq. refuse categorically and with hostility to do what a person wants. see eye to eye see EYE. see fit see FIT(1). see here! = look here. see into investigate. see life gain experience of the world, often by enjoying oneself.
see the light
1 realize one's mistakes etc.
2 suddenly see the way to proceed.
3 undergo religious conversion. see the light of day (usu. with neg.) come into existence.
see off
1 be present at the departure of (a person) (saw them off at Heathrow).
2 colloq. ward off, get the better of (managed to see off an investigation into their working methods).
see out
1 accompany out of a building etc.
2 finish (a project etc.) completely.
3 remain awake, alive, etc., until the end of (a period).
4 last longer than; outlive. see over inspect; tour and examine. see reason see REASON. see red become suddenly enraged. see a person right make sure that a person is rewarded, safe, etc. see service see SERVICE. see stars colloq. see lights before one's eyes as a result of a blow on the head. see things have hallucinations or false imaginings.
see through
1 not be deceived by; detect the true nature of.
2 penetrate visually. see-through adj. (esp. of clothing) translucent. see a person through support a person during a difficult time. see a thing through persist with it until it is completed. see to it (foll. by that + clause) ensure (see to it that I am not disturbed) (cf. sense 20 of v.). see one's way clear to feel able or entitled to. see the world see WORLD. see you (or see you later) colloq. an expression on parting.
we shall see
1 let us await the outcome.
2 a formula for declining to act at once. will see about it a formula for declining to act at once.
you see
1 you understand.
2 you will understand when I explain.

Derivative

seeable adj.

See, n.
1 the area under the authority of a bishop or archbishop, a diocese (the see of Norwich).
2 the office or jurisdiction of a bishop or archbishop (fill a vacant see).

Idiom

See of Rome the papacy, the Holy See.

Etymology

ME f. AF se(d) ult. f. L sedes seat f. sedere sit

THESAURUS

See

NB, animadvert, ante, ante up, appear, appraise, appreciate, apprehend, archbishopric, archdiocese, ascertain, assister, assure, attend, back, be acquainted with, be apprised of, be at, be aware of, be cognizant of, be conscious of, be conversant with, be informed, be present at, be sensible of, behold, bet, bet on, bishopric, call, call on, call to mind, call up, call upon, catch, catch sight of, certify, cinch, clap eyes on, clear up, clinch, cognize, come alive, come to, comprehend, conceive, conceptualize, conference, conjure up, consider, contemplate, cover, decide, descry, detect, determine, diocese, discern, discover, dismiss all doubt, distinguish, do, drop in, ensure, envisage, envision, espy, establish, examine, experience, fade, fathom, feel, find out, fix, gamble, get at, glimpse, go to, grasp, have, have in sight, have information about, have knowledge of, hazard, hear, heed, identify, image, imagine, inspect, insure, just see, ken, know, lay, lay a wager, lay down, lay eyes on, look, look in, look on, look upon, make a bet, make certain, make no doubt, make no mistake, make out, make sure, make sure of, mark, meet a bet, mind, nail down, note, notice, objectify, observe, occupy, parish, parlay, pass, pay a visit, penetrate, perceive, pick out, pick up, picture, pierce, play against, plumb, plunge, ponder, possess, prehend, probe, province, punt, realize, reassure, recognize, regard, remark, remove all doubt, represent, respond, respond to stimuli, run in, savvy, scan, scrutinize, see daylight, see into, see that, see the light, see through, see to it, seize, sense, set at rest, settle, show up, sight, sit in, smell, sort out, spot, spy, stake, stand pat, stop by, stop off, stop over, study, summon up, synod, take in, take note, take notice, taste, tend, touch, turn up, twig, understand, view, vision, visit, visualize, wager, watch, weigh, witness, wot, wot of

ROGET THESAURUS

See

Churchdom

N church, churchdom, ministry, apostleship, priesthood, prelacy, hierarch, church government, christendom, pale of the church, clericalism, sacerdotalism, episcopalianism, ultramontanism, theocracy, ecclesiology, ecclesiologist, priestcraft, odium theologicum, monachism, monachy, monasticism, monkhood, pontificate, primacy, archbishopric, archiepiscopacy, prelacy, bishopric, bishopdom, episcopate, episcopacy, see, diocese, deanery, stall, canonry, canonicate, prebend, prebendaryship, benefice, incumbency, glebe, advowson, living, cure, rectorship, vicariate, vicarship, deaconry, deaconship, curacy, chaplain, chaplaincy, chaplainship, cardinalate, cardinalship, abbacy, presbytery, holy orders, ordination, institution, consecration, induction, reading in, preferment, translation, presentation, popedom, the Vatican, the apostolic see, religious sects, council, conclave, convocation, synod, consistory, chapter, vestry, sanhedrim, conge d'elire, ecclesiastical courts, consistorial court, court of Arches, ecclesiastical, ecclesiological, clerical, sacerdotal, priestly, prelatical, pastoral, ministerial, capitular, theocratic, hierarchical, archiepiscopal, episcopal, episcopalian, canonical, monastic, monachal, monkish, abbatial, abbatical, Anglican, pontifical, papal, apostolic, Roman, Popish, ultramontane, priest-ridden.

Vision

VB see, behold, discern, perceive, have in sight, descry, sight, make out, discover, distinguish, recognize, spy, espy, ken, get a sight of, have a sight of, catch a sight of, get a glimpse of, have a glimpse of, catch a glimpse of, command a view of, witness, contemplate, speculate, cast the eyes on, set the eyes on, be a spectator of, look on, see sights, see at a glance, look, view, eye, lift up the eyes, open one's eye, look at, look on, look upon, look over, look about one, look round, survey, scan, inspect, run the eye over, run the eye through, reconnoiter, glance round, glance on, glance over turn one's looks upon, bend one's looks upon, direct the eyes to, turn the eyes on, cast a glance, observe, watch, see with one's own eyes, watch for, peep, peer, pry, take a peep, play at bopeep, look full in the face, look hard at, look intently, strain one's eyes, fix the eyes upon, rivet the eyes upon, stare, gaze, pore over, gloat on, leer, ogle, glare, goggle, cock the eye, squint, gloat, look askance.

Attention

VB be attentive, attend, advert to, observe, look, see, view, remark, notice, regard, take notice, mark, give attention to, pay attention to, pay heed to, give heed to, incline an ear to, lend an ear to, trouble one's head about, give a thought to, animadvert to, occupy oneself with, contemplate, look at, look to, look after, look into, look over, see to, turn the mind to, bend the mind to, apply the mind to, direct the mind to, give the mind to, turn the eye to, bend the eye to, apply the eye to, direct the eye to, give the eye to, turn the attention to, bend the attention to, apply the attention to, direct the attention to, give the attention to, have an eye to, have in one's eye, bear in mind, take into account, take into consideration, keep in sight, keep in view, have regard to, heed, mind, take cognizance of entertain, recognize, make note of, take note of, note, examine cursorily, glance at, glance upon, glance over, cast the eyes over, pass the eyes over, run over, turn over the leaves, dip into, perstringe, skim, take a cursory view of, examine, examine closely, examine intently, scan, scrutinize, consider, give one's mind to, bend one's mind to, overhaul, revise, pore over, inspect, review, pass under review, take stock of, fix the eye on, rivet attention on, fix attention on, devote the eye to, fix the mind on, devote the thoughts to, hear out, think out, mind one's business, revert to, watch hearken to, listen to, prick up the ears, have the eyes open, keep the eyes open, come to the point, meet with attention, fall under one's notice, fall under one's observation, be under consideration, catch the eye, strike the eye, attract notice, catch the attention, awaken the attention, wake the attention, invite the attention, solicit the attention, attract the attention, claim the attention excite the attention, engage the attention, occupy the attention, strike the attention, arrest the attention, fix the attention, engross the attention, absorb the attention, rivet the attention, catch the mind, awaken the mind, wake the mind, invite the mind, solicit the mind, attract the mind, claim the mind excite the mind, engage the mind, occupy the mind, strike the mind, arrest the mind, fix the mind, engross the mind, absorb the mind, rivet the mind, catch the thoughts, awaken the thoughts, wake the thoughts, invite the thoughts, solicit the thoughts, attract the thoughts, claim the thoughts excite the thoughts, engage the thoughts, occupy the thoughts, strike the thoughts, arrest the thoughts, fix the thoughts, engross the thoughts, absorb the thoughts, rivet the thoughts, be present to the mind, be uppermost in the mind, bring under one's notice, point out, point to, point at, point the finger at, lay the finger on, indigitate, indicate, direct attention to, call attention to, show, put a mark upon, call soldiers to 'attention', bring forward.

Experiment

VB experiment, essay, try, try out, assay, make an experiment, make a trial of, give a trial to, put on trial, subject to trial, experiment upon, rehearse, put to the test, bring to the test, submit to the test, submit to the proof, prove, verify, test, touch, practice upon, try one's strength, road-test, test drive, take for a spin, test fly, grope, feel one's way, grope for one's way, fumble, t=atonner, aller =a t=atons, put out a feeler, throw out a feeler, send up a trial balloon, send up a pilot balloon, see how the land lies, get the lay of the land, test the waters, feel out, sound out, take the pulse, see, check, check out, see how the wind blows, consult the barometer, feel the pulse, fish for, bob for, cast for, beat about for, angle, trawl, cast one's net, beat the bushes, try one's fortune, explore.

Belief

VB believe, credit, give faith to, give credit to, credence to, see, realize, assume, receive, set down for, take for, have it, take it, consider, esteem, presume, count upon, depend upon, calculate upon, pin one's faith upon, reckon upon, lean upon, build upon, rely upon, rest upon, lay one's account for, make sure of, make oneself easy about, on that score, take on trust, take on credit, take for granted, take for gospel, allow some weight to, attach some weight to, know, know for certain, have know, make no doubt, doubt not, be, rest assured, persuade oneself, assure oneself, satisfy oneself, make up one's mind, give one credit for, confide in, believe in, put one's trust in, place in, repose in, implicit confidence in, take one's word for, at one's word, place reliance on, rely upon, swear by, regard to, think, hold, take, take it, opine, be of opinion, conceive, trow, ween, fancy, apprehend, have it, hold a belief, possess, entertain a belief, adopt a belief, imbibe a belief, embrace a belief, get hold of a belief, hazard, foster, nurture a belief, cherish a belief, have an opinion, hold an opinion, possess, entertain an opinion, adopt an opinion, imbibe an opinion, embrace an opinion, get hold of an opinion, hazard an opinion, foster an opinion, nurture an opinion, cherish an opinion, view as, consider as, take as, hold as, conceive as, regard as, esteem as, deem as, look upon as, account as, set down as, surmise, get it into one's head, take it into one's head, come round to an opinion, swallow, cause to be believed, satisfy, persuade, have the ear of, gain the confidence of, assure, convince, convict, convert, wean, bring round, bring over, win over, indoctrinate, cram down the throat, produce conviction, carry conviction, bring home to, drive home to, go down, find credence, pass current, be received, be current, possess, take hold of, take possession of the mind.

Knowledge

VB know, ken, scan, wot, wot aware, be aware of, ween, weet, trow, have, possess, conceive, apprehend, comprehend, take, realize, understand, savvy, appreciate, fathom, make out, recognize, discern, perceive, see, get a sight-of, experience, know full well, have some knowledge of, possess some knowledge of, be au courant, have in one's head, have at one' fingers ends, know by heart, know by rote, be master of, connaitre le dessous des cartes, know what's what, see one's way, discover, come to one's knowledge.