decide -->determine, resolve, settle
These verbs pertain to the reaching of conclusions. Decide stresses the making of a choice regardless of how it is arrived at : jurors who have already decided what to think before hearing all the evidence; an investigative committee that took months to sift testimony and decide whether new legislation should be drafted. Sometimes a conclusive factor may be the subject: Above all, it was her earnestness that decided me. Using a passive construction is often thought to make the conclusion seem more objective, impassive, and official: It was decided at our meeting to adopt the honor system for the next semester.
Settle is considerably more forceful than decide, pointing exclusively to the reaching of a definite or final choice after a peridod of indecision or dispute.: a new hearing to settle the question forever; She had considered a number of jobs before settling on a career in advertising. with for, settle can indicated a reuctant or compromise choice: They had wanted to spend a week in Rome but settled for a few days.
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