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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]

Seem Seem, v. t. To befit; to beseem. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]