Definition of set into

The phrase "set into" is a compound preposition that combines the meaning of two separate words, "set" and "into." The origin of "set" can be traced back to the Old English word "settan," which means "to put," "to place," or "to lay." This word is related to the Old Norse word "setta," which has a similar meaning. The Old English word "settan" evolved over time and eventually became the Middle English "setten," which was pronounced as "sethen." During the 16th century, the spelling of the word changed again to "sette," and later to its current form, "set." The origin of "into" can be traced back to the Old English word "intān," which means "into" or "toward." This word comes from the Proto-Germanic root "ent" or "anti," which means "before" or "in front of." In the Middle English period, "intān" was pronounced as "inteth," and later as "ionato." The spelling of "into" has remained largely unchanged since then. When the words "set" and "into" are put together, they form the compound preposition "set into," which means "to place or put something into something else." This preposition is commonly used in modern English and is a reflection of the language's evolving history over time.