What is "to make a dead set"

Set \Set\, n.

1. The act of setting, as of the sun or other heavenly body; descent; hence, the close; termination. ``Locking at the set of day.''
   --Tennyson.

   The weary sun hath made a golden set.
   --Shak.

2. That which is set, placed, or fixed. Specifically:

   1. A young plant for growth; as, a set of white thorn.

   2. That which is staked; a wager; a venture; a stake; hence, a game at venture. [Obs. or R.]

      We will in France, by God's grace, play a set Shall strike his father's crown into the hazard.
      --Shak.

      That was but civil war, an equal set.
      --Dryden.

   3. (Mech.) Permanent change of figure in consequence of excessive strain, as from compression, tension, bending, twisting, etc.; as, the set of a spring.

   4. A kind of punch used for bending, indenting, or giving shape to, metal; as, a saw set.

   5. (Pile Driving) A piece placed temporarily upon the head of a pile when the latter cannot be reached by the weight, or hammer, except by means of such an intervening piece. [Often incorrectly written sett.]

   6. (Carp.) A short steel spike used for driving the head of a nail below the surface. Called also nail set.

3. [Perhaps due to confusion with sect, sept.] A number of things of the same kind, ordinarily used or classed together; a collection of articles which naturally complement each other, and usually go together; an assortment; a suit; as, a set of chairs, of china, of surgical or mathematical instruments, of books, etc. [In this sense, sometimes incorrectly written sett.]

4. A number of persons associated by custom, office, common opinion, quality, or the like; a division; a group; a clique. ``Others of our set.''
   --Tennyson.

   This falls into different divisions, or sets, of nations connected under particular religions.
   --R. P. Ward.

5. Direction or course; as, the set of the wind, or of a current.

6. In dancing, the number of persons necessary to execute a quadrille; also, the series of figures or movements executed.

7. The deflection of a tooth, or of the teeth, of a saw, which causes the the saw to cut a kerf, or make an opening, wider than the blade.

8. 1. A young oyster when first attached.

   2. Collectively, the crop of young oysters in any locality.

9. (Tennis) A series of as many games as may be necessary to enable one side to win six. If at the end of the tenth game the score is a tie, the set is usually called a deuce set, and decided by an application of the rules for playing off deuce in a game. See Deuce.

10. (Type Founding) That dimension of the body of a type called by printers the width.

11. (Textiles) Any of various standards of measurement of the fineness of cloth; specif., the number of reeds in one inch and the number of threads in each reed. The exact meaning varies according to the location where it is used. Sometimes written sett.

12. A stone, commonly of granite, shaped like a short brick and usually somewhat larger than one, used for street paving. Commonly written sett.

13. Camber of a curved roofing tile.

14. The manner, state, or quality of setting or fitting; fit; as, the set of a coat. [Colloq.]

15. Any collection or group of objects considered together. Dead set.

    1. The act of a setter dog when it discovers the game, and remains intently fixed in pointing it out.

    2. A fixed or stationary condition arising from obstacle or hindrance; a deadlock; as, to be at a dead set.

    3. A concerted scheme to defraud by gaming; a determined onset.

       To make a dead set, to make a determined onset, literally or figuratively.

       Syn: Collection; series; group. See Pair.