set-off

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. That which is set off against another thing; an offset.
2. n. That which is used to improve the appearance of anything; a decoration; an ornament.
3. n. In architecture, a connecting member interposed between a lighter and a more massive structure projecting beyond the former, as between a lower section of a wall or a buttress and a section of less thickness above; also, that part of a wall, or the like, which is exposed horizontally when the part above it is reduced in thickness. Also called offset.
4. n. A counter-claim or-demand; a cross-debt; a counterbalancing claim.
5. n. In law:
6. n. The balancing or countervailing of one debt by another.
7. n. The claim of a debtor to have his debt extinguished in whole or in part by the application of a debt due from his creditor, or from one with whom his creditor is in privity. Set-off is that right which exists between two persons each of whom, under an independent contract, owes an ascertained amount to the other, to set off their respective debts, by way of mutual deduction, so that the person to whom the larger debt is due shall recover the residue only after such deduction. (Kerr.) Set-off, counter-claim, and recoupment are terms often used indiscriminately. Counter-claim is more appropriate of any cross-demand on which the claimant might if he chose maintain an independent action, and on which, should he establish it as a cause of action, either in such independent action or by way of counter-claim when sued, he would be entitled to an affirmative judgment in his own favor for payment of the claim except so far as his adversary's claim might reduce or extinguish it. This use of the word distinguishes it from such claims as may be set off in favor of a person, which yet would not sustain an action by him, nor any affirmative judgment in his favor. Recoupment is appropriate only to designate a cross-demand considered as dependent on the concession of plaintiff's demand, subject to a right to cut down the amount recoverable by virtue of it. In these, which are the strict senses of the words, a recoupment only reduces plaintiff's demand, and leaves him to take judgment for what remains after the deduction; a set-off extinguishes the smaller of two independent demands and an equal amount of the larger, but may leave the residue of the latter unenforced; a counter-claim is one that may be established irrespective of the adversary's success or failure in establishing his claim, and, although subject to be reduced or extinguished by the adversary's success, may otherwise be enforced in the same action.
8. n. In printing, same as offset, 9. Also setting off.

Wiktionary

1. n. That which is set off against another thing; an offset.
2. n. dated That which is used to improve the appearance of anything; a decoration; an ornament.
3. n. law A counterclaim; a cross debt or demand; a distinct claim filed or set up by the defendant against the plaintiff's demand.
4. n. printing An offset.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. That which is set off against another thing; an offset.
2. n. That which is used to improve the appearance of anything; a decoration; an ornament.
3. n. (Law) A counterclaim; a cross debt or demand; a distinct claim filed or set up by the defendant against the plaintiff's demand.
4. n. (Arch.) Same as Offset, n., 4.
5. n. (Print.) See Offset, 7.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. leave.
2. v. provoke or stir up
3. v. make up for
4. v. set in motion or cause to begin
5. v. direct attention to, as if by means of contrast
6. v. put in motion or move to act
7. v. cause to burst with a violent release of energy
8. n. structure where a wall or building narrows abruptly