Seel"y (?), a. See Silly. [Obs.] Spenser.
Seem (sm), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Seemed (smd); p. pr. & vb. n. Seeming.]
[OE. semen to seem, to become, befit, AS. sman to satisfy, pacify; akin
to Icel. sæma to honor, to bear with, conform to, sæmr becoming, fit,
sma 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. √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.
Thou picture of what thou seem'st.
Shak.
All seemed well pleased; all seemed, but were not all.
Milton.
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof
are the ways of death.
Prov. xiv. 12.
It seems, it appears; it is understood as true; it is said.
A prince of Italy, it seems, entertained his mistress on a great
lake.
Addison.
Syn. -- To appear; look. -- 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.
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.
Seem, v. t. To befit; to beseem. [Obs.] Spenser.
Seem"er (?), n. One who seems; one who carries or assumes an appearance
or semblance.
Hence shall we see, If power change purpose, what our seemers be.
Shak.
Seem"ing, a. Having a semblance, whether with or without reality;
apparent; specious; befitting; as, seeming friendship; seeming truth.
My lord, you have lost a friend indeed; And I dare swear you borrow
not that face Of seeming sorrow, it is sure your own.
Shak.
Seem"ing, n. 1. Appearance; show; semblance; fair appearance;
speciousness.
These keep Seeming and savor all the winter long.
Shak.