seem
Meaning
- To appear; to look outwardly; to be perceived as.
- (obsolete) To befit; to beseem.
Synonyms
appear to be
be apparently
look as if
give the impression
appear as
come across as
look so
seem to be
appear likely
be likely
be likely to
come over as
be suitable
Frequency
Pronounced as (IPA)
/siːm/
Etymology
From Middle English semen (“to seem, befit, be becoming”), from Old Norse sœma (“to conform to, beseem, befit”), from Proto-Germanic *sōmijaną (“to unite, fit”), from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one; whole”). Cognate with Scots seme (“to be fitting; beseem”), Danish sømme (“to beseem”), Old Swedish søma, Faroese søma (“to be proper”). Related also to Old Norse sómi (“honour”) ( > archaic Danish somme (“decent comportment”)), Old Norse sœmr (“fitting, seemly”), Old English sēman (“to reconcile, bring an agreement”), Old English sōm (“agreement”).
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Notes