seem
[si:m]
vi. 象, 似乎



seem
[ verb ]

1. give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

<verb.perception> appear look
She seems to be sleeping
This appears to be a very difficult problem
This project looks fishy
They appeared like people who had not eaten or slept for a long time

2. seem to be true, probable, or apparent

<verb.perception> appear
It seems that he is very gifted
It appears that the weather in California is very bad

3. appear to exist

<verb.stative>
There seems no reason to go ahead with the project now

4. appear to one's own mind or opinion

<verb.perception>
I seem to be misunderstood by everyone
I can't seem to learn these Chinese characters

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.

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.

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.

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