so i lit a fire

[pensnest]

Do you sit on

a couch
a sofa
a settee
something else in the same line (no fair saying 'a chair')?

Do you perceive any difference between these three things? Can you define it?

Comments

[stellar_dust]

Either a couch or a sofa. That's the plush, well-cushioned, all-over-upholstered item in the living room that has room for three people to sit or one person to stretch out for a nap. I have relatives who would call it a davenport.

A settee might be a little fancier, maybe less plush upholstery, and often only seats two people. A settee might be wicker porch furniture with foam cushions that tie on, or an antique-looking piece with no upholstery on legs/arms and soft cushioning on back and seat that is permanently fastened down (that is, no removable cushions).

A settee might also be called a loveseat in some circumstances, but something that seats two that is upholstered like a couch (see above) could also be called a loveseat.

[pensnest]

Now, this is very interesting! I've been trying to define 'settee' for myself, and it comes to mind that my grandparents had a settee, but actually it was an old-fashioned couch/sofa, not a big, cushiony one but the kind with slightly hard arms and thinner cushions. So I think, for me, settee means 'old-fashioned and less comfy sofa'. Very interesting that you define it as something distinctly more fancy. Cool.