Matter resolved or decided and arranged

"To settle" can mean "to come to an agreement." In "a settled matter," the "matter" is something that was being discussed, argued, or debated. The discussion can be friendly or angry. "Settled" means the discussion came to an end, there was an agreement, and action was taken. It is now over, and everything is final. For example, a committee is organizing a class reunion and discussing where to have the catered dinner and what to have. "Let's have it at X," "It's too expensive and a lot of our classmates aren't rich." "Should it be an open bar or a cash bar?" The discussion goes on for a long time and finally the committee says "We're going to have it at the Glenwood Golf Club, it will be buffet style, cash bar, choice of chicken, fish or lasagna." Next day the committee chair gets an email from someone says "There's a terrific Thai place in Glenwood, the prices are reasonable and the food is so healthy." The chairman responds "Thank you very much for your helpful suggestion, but this is a settled matter." The phrase could be used in a formal way about a civil lawsuit. The parties negotiate and come to an out-of-court settlement. The lawsuit is now a "settled matter."

Matter resolved or decided and arranged