see

English

Pronunciation

• enPR: sē, IPA^(key): /siː/
• Rhymes: -iː
• Homophones: C, cee, sea, Seay

• Audio - 'to see' (UK)

  (file)

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Etymology 1

From Middle English seen, from Old English sēon (“to see, look, behold, perceive, observe, discern, understand, know”), from Proto-West Germanic *sehwan, from Proto-Germanic *sehwaną (“to see”), from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“to see, notice”).

Verb

see (third-person singular simple present sees, present participle seeing, simple past saw or (dialectal) seen or (dialectal) seent or (dialectal) seed, past participle seen or (dialectal) seent or (dialectal) seed or (dialectal) saw)

1. (transitive) To perceive or detect someone or something with the eyes, or as if by sight.
   • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt's Patients, page 18:

     Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path. […] It twisted and turned, […] and opened out into a big clear space like a lawn. And, back of the lawn, was a big, old-fashioned house, with piazzas stretching in front of it, and all blazing with lights. 'Twas the house I'd seen the roof of from the beach.

   • 1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:

     But Richmond […] appeared to lose himself in his own reflections. Some pickled crab, which he had not touched, had been removed with a damson pie; and his sister saw […] that he had eaten no more than a spoonful of that either.

   • 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)

     I want to see this house!

     Audio (US)

     (file)

   1. To witness or observe by personal experience.

      Hyponyms: experience, suffer

      Now I've seen it all!

      I have been blind since birth and I love to read Braille. When the books arrive in from the library, I can’t wait to see what stories they have sent me.

      • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, John 8:51, column 1:

        Uerely, verely I ſay vnto you, If a man keepe my ſaying, hee ſhall neuer ſee death.

      • 1838 March – 1839 October, Charles Dickens, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1839, OCLC 1057107260, page 434:

        […] And remember this, 'scape-gallows,' said Ralph, menacing him with his hand, 'that if we meet again, and you so much as notice me by one begging gesture, you shall see the inside of a jail once more […]

   2. To watch (a movie) at a cinema, or a show on television etc.

      I saw the latest Tarantino flick last week.

   • Perceive definition

     To become aware of, through the physical senses or by thinking; to see; to understand. (1 of 2 perceive definitions)

   • Detect definition

     to discover or find by careful search, examination, or probing

   • Eye definition

     An organ through which animals see (perceive surroundings via light). (1 of 23 eye definitions)

   • Sight definition

     The ability to see. (1 of 11 sight definitions)

   • Witness definition

     Attestation of a fact or event; testimony. (1 of 5 witness definitions)

   • Observe definition

     To notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail. (1 of 4 observe definitions)

   • Experience definition

     The effect upon the judgment or feelings produced by any event, whether witnessed or participated in; personal and direct impressions as contrasted with description or fancies; personal acquaintance; actual enjoyment or suffering. (1 of 5 experience definitions)

   • Suffer definition

     To undergo hardship. (1 of 5 suffer definitions)

   • Cinema definition

     A movie theatre, a movie house (1 of 4 cinema definitions)

   • Show definition

     To display, to have somebody see (something). (1 of 10 show definitions)

   • Television definition

     An electronic communication medium that allows the transmission of real-time visual images, and often sound. (1 of 4 television definitions)
2. To form a mental picture of.
   • 2013 August 23, Mark Cocker, “Wings of Desire”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 11, page 28:

     It is not just that we see birds as little versions of ourselves. It is also that, at the same time, they stand outside any moral process. They are utterly indifferent. This absolute oblivion on their part, this lack of sharing, is powerful.

   • 2014 October 14, David Malcolm, “The Great War Re-Remembered: Allohistory and Allohistorical Fiction”, in Martin Löschnigg; Marzena Sokolowska-Paryz, editors, The Great War in Post-Memory Literature and Film‎^[1], Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG., →ISBN, page 173:

     The question of the plausibility of the counter-factual is seen as key in all three discussions of allohistorical fiction (as it is in Demandt's and Ferguson's examinations of allohistory) (cf. Rodiek 25–26; Ritter 15–16; Helbig 32).

   1. (figuratively) To understand.

      Do you see what I mean?

      • 2013 June 28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 3, page 21:

        Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […] . Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. […] But the scandals kept coming […] . A broad section of the political class now recognises the need for change but remains unable to see the necessity of a fundamental overhaul.

   2. To come to a realization of having been mistaken or misled.

      They're blind to the damage they do, but someday they'll see.

   3. (transitive) To foresee, predict, or prophesy.

      The oracle saw the destruction of the city.

      • 1967, Alan Gordon & Garry Bonner (lyrics and music), “Happy Together”, performed by The Turtles:

        I can't see me lovin' nobody but you / For all my life / When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue / For all my life

   4. (used in the imperative) Used to emphasise a proposition.

      You see, Johnny, your Dad isn't your real father.

      You're not welcome here any more, see?

   • Mental definition

     Of or relating to the mind or specifically the total emotional and intellectual response of an individual to external reality.

     1. Of or relating to intellectual as contrasted with emotional activity. (1 of 11 mental definitions)

   • Picture definition

     A representation of anything (as a person, a landscape, a building) upon canvas, paper, or other surface, by drawing, painting, printing, photography, etc. (1 of 13 picture definitions)

   • Understand definition

     To grasp a concept fully and thoroughly, especially to be aware of the meaning of and to be aware of the intent of. (1 of 3 understand definitions)

   • Foresee definition

     To be able to see beforehand: to anticipate; predict. (1 of 2 foresee definitions)

   • Predict definition

     To make a prediction: to forecast, foretell, or estimate a future event on the basis of knowledge and reasoning; to prophesy a future event on the basis of mystical knowledge or power. (1 of 4 predict definitions)

   • Prophesy definition

     To speak or write with divine inspiration; to act as prophet. (1 of 4 prophesy definitions)
3. (social) To meet, to visit.
   1. To have an interview with; especially, to make a call upon; to visit.

      to go to see a friend

      • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, 1 Samuel 15:35, column 2:

        And Samuel came no more to ſee Saul vntill the day of his death: neuertheleſſe, Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king ouer Iſrael.

   2. To date frequently.

      I've been seeing her for two months.

   3. To visit for a medical appointment.

      You should see a doctor about that rash on your arm.

      I've been seeing a therapist for three years now.

   • Date definition

     The fruit of the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, somewhat in the shape of an olive, containing a soft, sweet pulp and enclosing a hard kernel. (1 of 2 date definitions)
4. (transitive; ergative) To be the setting or time of.

   The 20th century saw humanity's first space exploration.

   1999 saw the release of many great films.

   • 1995 June 3, David Sprague, “Buffalo Tom Reaches Crossroads: EastWest Trio At Make-Or-Break Point”, in Billboard, volume 107, number 22, page 9:

     It seems as if every passing year sees the mainstream embrace a longtime cult-favorite alternative rock band.

   • Setting definition

     present participle of set

   • Time definition

     The inevitable progression into the future with the passing of present and past events. (1 of 25 time definitions)
5. (by extension) To ensure that something happens, especially while witnessing it.

   I'll see you hang for this!  I saw that they didn't make any more trouble.

   • Ensure definition

     To make a pledge to (someone); to promise, guarantee (someone of something); to assure. (1 of 2 ensure definitions)
6. (transitive) To wait upon; attend, escort.

   I saw the old lady safely across the road.

   You can see yourself out.

   • Wait Upon definition

     Synonym of wait on

   • Attend definition

     To listen to (something or someone); to pay attention to; regard; heed. (1 of 10 attend definitions)

   • Escort definition

     A group of people or vehicles, generally armed, who go with a person or people of importance to safeguard them on a journey or mission. (1 of 7 escort definitions)
7. (gambling, transitive) To respond to another player's bet with a bet of equal value.

   I'll see your twenty dollars and raise you ten.

   • Gambling definition

     present participle of gamble

   • Bet definition

     (1 of 4 bet definitions)
8. To determine by trial or experiment; to find out (if or whether).

   I'll come over later and see if I can fix your computer.

   You think I can't beat you in a race, eh? We'll see.

   • Determine definition

     To set the boundaries or limits of. (1 of 8 determine definitions)

   • Trial definition

     An opportunity to test something out; a test. (1 of 6 trial definitions)

   • Experiment definition

     A test under controlled conditions made to either demonstrate a known truth, examine the validity of a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. (1 of 2 experiment definitions)

   • Find Out definition

     To discover, as by asking or investigating. (1 of 3 find out definitions)
9. (used in the imperative) To reference or to study for further details.

   Step 4: In the system, check out the laptop to the student (see: "Logging Resources" in the Tutor Manual).

   For a complete proof of the Poincaré conjecture, see Appendix C.

   • Reference definition

     A relationship or relation (to something). (1 of 13 reference definitions)

   • Study definition

     To review materials already learned in order to make sure one does not forget them, usually in preparation for an examination. (1 of 6 study definitions)

   • Detail definition

     A part small enough to escape casual notice. (1 of 9 detail definitions)
10. To examine something closely, or to utilize something, often as a temporary alternative.

    Can I see that lighter for a second? Mine just quit working.

11. To include as one of something's experiences.

    The equipment has not seen usage outside of our projects.

    I saw military service in Vietnam.

Conjugation

Synonyms

• (perceive with the eyes): behold, descry, espy, observe, view
• (understand): follow, get, understand
• (date frequently): go out; see also Thesaurus:date

Derived terms

Translations

Interjection

see

1. Introducing an explanation

   See, in order to win the full prize we would have to come up with a scheme to land a rover on the Moon.

   Synonyms: look, well, so

   • Look definition

     To try to see, to pay attention to with one’s eyes. (1 of 17 look definitions)

   • Well definition

     Accurately, competently, satisfactorily. (1 of 5 well definitions)

   • So definition

     ISO 639-1 language code for Somali.

Translations

See also

• look
• sight
• watch

Etymology 2

From Middle English se, see, from Old French sie (“seat, throne; town, capital; episcopal see”), from Latin sedes (“seat”), referring to the bishop's throne or chair (compare seat of power) in the cathedral; related to the Latin verb sedere (“to sit”).

Noun

see (plural sees)

1. a diocese, archdiocese; a region of a church, generally headed by a bishop, especially an archbishop.

   • Diocese definition

     Administrative division of the later Roman Empire, starting with the tetrarchy. (1 of 2 diocese definitions)

   • Archdiocese definition

     An area administered by an archbishop; the ecclesiastical hierarchy of this area, also under the archbishop.

   • Bishop definition

     An overseer of congregations: either any such overseer, generally speaking, or (in Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Anglicanism, etc.) an official in the church hierarchy (actively or nominally) governing a diocese, supervising the church's priests, deacons, and property in its territory.

     1. A similar official or chief priest in another religion.

     (1 of 11 bishop definitions)

   • Archbishop definition

     A senior bishop who is in charge of an archdiocese, and presides over a group of dioceses called a province (in Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, etc.)
2. The office of a bishop or archbishop; bishopric or archbishopric

   • Office definition

     A ceremonial duty or service, particularly:

     1. The authorized form of ceremonial worship of a church.
     2. Any special liturgy, as the Office for the Dead or of the Virgin.
     3. A daily service without the eucharist.
     4. The daily service of the breviary, the liturgy for each canonical hour, including psalms, collects, and lessons. (1 of 32 office definitions)

   • Bishopric definition

     A diocese or region of a church which a bishop governs. (1 of 2 bishopric definitions)

   • Archbishopric definition

     The rank or office of an archbishop. (1 of 2 archbishopric definitions)
3. A seat; a site; a place where sovereign power is exercised.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Qveene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for VVilliam Ponsonbie, OCLC 960102938, book III, canto VI, stanza 2, page 478:

     Ioue laught on Venus from his ſouerayne ſee

Related terms

Derived terms

• Holy See

Translations

See also

• cathedra
• cathedral
• chair
• throne

Further reading

• see on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• -ese, ESE, Ese, ees, ese

Afrikaans

Alternative forms

• sé (obsolete)

Etymology

From Dutch zee, from Middle Dutch sêe, from Old Dutch sēo, from Proto-Germanic *saiwiz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɪə/, /zɪə/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

see (plural seë)

1. sea

   Laasweek het ons see toe gegaan.

   Last week we went to the sea.

   Die trekvoëls vlieg oor die berge, oor die see, Lapland toe.

   The migratory birds are flying over the mountains, over the sea, to Sápmi.

   • Sea definition

     A large body of salt water. (1 of 10 sea definitions)

Derived terms

• seekoei
• seesout
• seevis
• seevoël
• seewater

Estonian

Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *se, ultimately from Proto-Uralic *śe. cognate to Finnish se, Votic se, Erzya се (se, “this, that”), Khanty си (si, “that over yonder; now, then”), and Nganasan [script needed] (sete, “he, she”).

Pronoun

see (genitive selle, partitive seda)

1. this

   • This definition

     The (thing) here . (1 of 5 this definitions)
2. it

   • It definition

     ISO 639-1 language code for Italian.
3. (colloquial, somewhat rude) he, she (usually only used when said person is not present)

   • He definition

     ISO 639-1 language code for Hebrew.

   • She definition

     The female (typically) person or animal previously mentioned or implied. (1 of 5 she definitions)

Declension

Derived terms

See also

Finnish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈseː/, [ˈs̠e̞ː]
• Rhymes: -eː
• Syllabification: see

Etymology 1

Compare Swedish ce, English cee, both ultimately from Latin cē with the c sound changed from a /k/ to a /s/ as is a common change in languages using the Latin alphabet.

Alternative forms

• cee

Noun

see

1. cee (The name of the Latin-script letter C.)
   • 1990, Hämäläinen, Eila, Aletaan I: Suomen kielen oppikirja vasta-alkajille (Let's begin I: Finnish textbook for the beginners), Helsinki: Helsingin Yliopisto (University of Helsinki), →ISBN, page 23:

     Luemme kirjaimet näin: aa bee see dee ee äf gee hoo ii jii koo äl äm än oo pee kuu är äs tee uu vee kaksois-vee äks yy tset ruotsalainen oo ää öö

     We read the letters as follows: aa bee see …

   • Cee definition

     The name of the Latin-script letter C. (1 of 2 cee definitions)

   • C definition

     The third letter of the basic modern Latin alphabet.

Usage notes

• Speakers often use the corresponding forms of c-kirjain ("letter C, letter c") instead of inflecting this word, especially in plural. The plural forms may get confused with sei (“saithe”).

Declension

Synonyms

• c-kirjain

Etymology 2

< seitsemän

Numeral

see

1. (colloquial, counting) seven

   • Seven definition

     NATO & ICAO phonetic alphabet code for the numeral 7.

See also

• seitsemän (“seven”)

Etymology 3

From Proto-Finnic *se. Compare Estonian see.

Pronoun

see

1. (dialectal, rare, Southwest) Synonym of se.

   • Se definition

     ISO 639-1 language code for Northern Sami.

Anagrams

• ees

Friulian

Alternative forms

• siee

Etymology

From the verb seâ. Compare Italian sega, Venetian siega, French scie.

Noun

see f (plural seis)

1. saw

   • Saw definition

     (1 of 4 saw definitions)

Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch sēo, from Proto-Germanic *saiwiz.

Noun

sêe f or m

1. sea

Inflection

Descendants

• Dutch: zee f
  • Afrikaans: see
  • Berbice Creole Dutch: sei
  • Javindo: see
  • Negerhollands: see
  • → Saramaccan: zé
  • → Sranan Tongo: se
• Limburgish: zieë f
• West Flemish: zji m or f, zêe

Further reading

• “see”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E.; Verdam, J. (1885–1929), “see (I)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN, page I

Middle English

Etymology 1

Inherited from Old English sǣ, from Proto-West Germanic *saiwi, from Proto-Germanic *saiwiz.

Alternative forms

• ce, sæ, se, sea, sei, ze

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɛː/, /seː/
• Rhymes: -ɛː

Noun

see (plural sees)

1. sea, ocean

   • Ocean definition

     One of the large bodies of water separating the continents. (1 of 4 ocean definitions)
2. A body of water, a lake

   • Body Of Water definition

     Any significant accumulation of water, usually covering the Earth or another planet, such as a river, lake or a bay. (1 of 2 body of water definitions)

   • Lake definition

     A large, landlocked stretch of water or similar liquid. (1 of 4 lake definitions)

Related terms

• Rede See
• seeman

Descendants

• English: sea
• Scots: se, see, sey, seye, sie
• Yola: zea, zee

References

• “sē, n.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-09.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Old French sei, from Latin sedes.

Alternative forms

• ce, cee, se

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /seː/
• Rhymes: -eː

Noun

see (plural sees)

1. seat, chair

   • Seat definition

     Something to be sat upon.

     1. A place in which to sit. (1 of 17 seat definitions)

   • Chair definition

     An item of furniture used to sit on or in, comprising a seat, legs or wheels, back, and sometimes arm rests, for use by one person. Compare stool, couch, sofa, settee, loveseat and bench. (1 of 10 chair definitions)
2. dwelling, residence

   • Dwelling definition

     A house or place in which a person lives; a habitation, a home.

   • Residence definition

     The place where one lives (resides); one's home. (1 of 9 residence definitions)
3. A royal or episcopal chair

   • Royal definition

     Of or relating to a monarch or their family. (1 of 5 royal definitions)

   • Episcopal definition

     Of or relating to the affairs of a bishop in various Christian churches.
4. A royal or episcopal polity or realm

   • Polity definition

     An organizational structure of the government of a state, church, etc. (1 of 2 polity definitions)

   • Realm definition

     An abstract sphere of influence, real or imagined. (1 of 6 realm definitions)
5. A royal or episcopal residence
6. (Christianity) The Kingdom of Heaven.

   • Christianity definition

     An Abrahamic religion originating from the community of the followers of Jesus Christ.

   • Kingdom Of Heaven definition

     A concept of heaven as a hierarchical dominion with God at the top and a court of saints, archangels and angels. (1 of 2 Kingdom of Heaven definitions)

Descendants

• English: see

References

• “sē, n.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-09.

North Frisian

Etymology

From Old Frisian sē, from Proto-West Germanic *saiwi. Cognates include Dutch zee.

Noun

see m (plural seen)

1. (Föhr-Amrum) lake

Scots

Alternative forms

• sie, sey, sei

Etymology

From Middle English seen, from Old English sēon, from Proto-West Germanic *sehwan. Cognate with English see.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈsi]^[1]
• (Coast Scots) IPA^(key): [ˈsəi̯]

Verb

see (third-person singular simple present sees, present participle seein, simple past saw, seed, past participle seen)

1. to see

   • See definition

     To perceive or detect someone or something with the eyes, or as if by sight.

     1. To witness or observe by personal experience. (1 of 20 see definitions)

References

Tetum

Verb

see

1. to turn, to present

   • Turn definition

     To make a non-linear physical movement.

     1. Of a body, person, etc, to move around an axis through itself. (1 of 35 turn definitions)

   • Present definition

     Relating to now, for the time being; current. (1 of 8 present definitions)

West Frisian

Etymology

From Old Frisian sē, from Proto-West Germanic *saiwi.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /seː/

Noun

see c (plural seeën, diminutive seeke)

1. sea

Derived terms

• seehûn
• seeko
• seerôver

Further reading

• “see”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011