in astronomy, the withdrawing of a star or planet, or its sinking below the horizon. Astronomers and poets make three different kinds of setting of the stars, viz. the Cosmical, Chronical, and Heliacal. See these articles.

the sea-language. To set the land or the sun by the compass, is to observe how the land bears on any point of the compass, or on what point of the compass the sun is. Also when two ships fail in sight of one another, to mark on what point the chafed bears, is termed setting the chase by the compass.

Setting, among sportsmen, a term used to express the manner of taking partridges by means of a dog peculiarly trained to that purpose. See Shooting.

Act of Settlement, in British history, a name given to the statute 12 and 13 W. III. cap. 2, whereby the crown was limited to his present majesty's illustrious house; and some new provisions were added, at the same fortunate era, for better securing our religion, laws, and liberties; which the statute declares to be the birthright of the people of England, according to the ancient doctrine of the common law.