Wiktionary
vb. 1 To initiate or begin some action. 2 To attack.
WordNet
v. begin to deal with; "approach a task"; "go about a difficult problem"; "approach a new project" [syn: go about, approach]
enter upon an activity or enterprise [syn: undertake, attempt]
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action; "We began working at dawn"; "Who will start?"; "Get working as soon as the sun rises!"; "The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia"; "He began early in the day"; "Let's get down to work now" [syn: get down, begin, get, start out, start, set out, commence] [ant: end]
Usage examples of "set about".
That they did so set about destroying their enemies, wilfully, maliciously, and with malice prepense and aforethought, is susceptible of proof as conclusive as that which in a criminal court sends murderers to the gallows.
One political commentator had called him Scottish Labour's Mr Fixit, because of his ability to brush away the sand from around the party's many landmines and set about defusing them.
Her mother didn't say where she'd been, just pinched Mouse on the cheek and set about fixing a late supper.
When you have reckoned up all this, if your inclination still holds, set about the combat.
If you think that, after I have spoken, King Louis whom they name the just will suffer the trial of the Vicomte to go further on your instigation, or if you think that you will be able to slip your own neck from the noose I shall have set about it, you are an infinitely greater fool than I deem you.
For when some set about to prepare themselves for Holy Communion, they suffer from the more evil suggestions of Satan.
My own idea is that his lordship has some important task for me to execute, and that I must set about it forthwith.
It was ten o'clock, too late to set about the business he had intended.
It was rather too late in the day to set about being simple-minded and ignorant.
Instead, as Colin Powell noted, the Coalition Forces cut off the head and life lines to the Iraqi Army in the field and then set about killing it.
The Imperial posts were set about eight leagues apart, usually in little villages or in market towns.
But now the good woman, whether moved by compassion, or by shame, or by whatever other motive, I cannot tell, first gave her servants a round scold for disobeying the orders which she had never given, and then bidding the drawer lay a napkin in the Sun, she set about the matter in good earnest, and soon accomplished it.
Early upon the morning following those hours passed in Arobin's society, Edna set about securing her new abode and hurrying her arrangements for occupying it.