Forms: (see below). [OE. smítan (smát, smiton, smiten), = OFris. smîta (WFris. smite, EFris. smite, smīt, NFris. smit) to throw, MDu. smiten (Du. smijten) to throw, strike, MLG. and LG. smîten to throw, OHG. smîzan to smear (also bismîzan to smear, sully, ûzsmîzan to cast out; MHG. smîzen, G. schmeissen to throw, strike, smear, excrete), Goth. bi-, gasmeitan to smear. In the Scand. languages represented by MSw. and Sw. smita (smeta), Norw. smita, Da. smide, which are prob. from MLG. The development of the various senses is not quite clear, but that of throwing is perh. the original one.
The compound besmítan is common in OE., and FORSMITE occurs in ME.]
A. Illustration of Forms.
1. Inf. (and Pres. stem) 1 -smítan, 3 smiten (-enn), 3–4 smyten, 5 smytyn; 3– smite (4 north. smete), 4–6 smyte (5 smyit), 5–6 Sc. smyt, 5, 7 smytt, 5 smyght, 6–7 smight; 4 smit, north. smett, smitt(e.
c. 1000. Saxon Leechd., III. 14. Smite mon ða sealfe … on þæt heafod.
c. 1160. Hatton Gosp., Matt. v. 39. ʓif hwa þe smite on þin swiðre wænge.
c. 1200. Ormin, 14677. To smitenn itt to dæde.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 61. He wile smite mid … swuerde.
c. 1250. Owl & Night., 78. Al þat þu myht … smyten.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5656. He sagh an egypcien … Smit a juu. Ibid., 15798. I wil noght þat þou smete.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. viii. 21. I shal smyte no more.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 461/1. Smytyn, ferio, percutio. Ibid., Smyte fyyr, fugillo.
c. 1450. MS. Douce 55 fol. 3. Smytt it in feyre pecys.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Kings xx. 35. I praye the smite me.
1539. Bible (Cranmer), John xviii. 23. Why smyttest thou me?
1570. Levins, Manip., 151. To smyte, percutere, ferire.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. iv. 21. For him likewise he quickly downe did smight.
c. 1635. Sir W. Mure, Ps. cxli. 5, Wks. (S.T.S.), II. 218. Me let the righteouse smytt.
1641. Hinde, J. Bruen, 18. Smighting their consciences.
1663. S. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr, xxxi. (1687), 379. To have a Dead Palsie smite your loyns.
b. 3rd pers. sing. 2–4 smit, 4–5 smyt, 5 smytt(e.
a. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 13. Se ðe smit under ða eare.
c. 1340. Nominale (Skeat), 188. Man with hamur smyt on the anfelde.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 40. Whan … the spore The horse side smit to sore, It grieveth ofte.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), V. 45. This Ryvere comethe rennynge…; and aftre it smytt unto Londe.
2. Pa. t. a. Sing. (latterly also pl.) α. 1–2 smát, 3–6 smat (3 smæt), 4–6 smate. (After 1300 north. and Sc.)
c. 725. Corpus Gloss., I 352. Inpingit, smat, ʓemaercode.
c. 1160. Hatton Gosp., Matt. xxvi. 68. Hwæt ys se þe þe smat.
c. 1205. Lay., 20317. Me hine smæt mid smærte ȝerden.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20957. A jugelur wit blindnes he smat [v.r. smate].
c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 516. With his spere he smate hym thrugh.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, IX. xii. Quhou Turnus the big Pandarus smat [v.r. smate] down.
β. 3–7 smot, 4 smoth, 5 smotte, 6 smott; 4– smote (also 4–5 pl. smoten), 4–5 smoot, smoote (also 5 pl. smooten), 5 smoitte, 6 Sc. smoit, 7 smoat(e.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2925. Oc Moyses wirm hem alle smot.
a. 1300. Havelok, 2654. Ubbe … smoth Godrich.
a. 1325. Prose Ps. lxviii. 31. Hym þat tou smote.
c. 1340. Ayenb., 48. Þeruore smot god … onam.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 415. Petir … smoot of Malcus eere.
c. 1400. Sowdone Bab., 1796. Thay … smoten down right al a-boute.
c. 1450. Merlin, xv. 237. Anoon thei smote to-geder fercely.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, lvi. 152. She smotte grete strokes.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Sam. xxiv. 5. It smote him … in his hert.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. i. 28. She … downe him smot.
1604. Shaks., Oth., V. ii. 356. I … smoate him, thus.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 30. The Lord smot him with the plague.
1714. Young, Force Relig., I. (ed. 2), 17.
| Back she recoil’d, she smote her lovely Breast, | |
| Her Eyes the Anguish of her Heart confess’d. |
γ. 2nd pers. 1–3 smite, 3–4 smete. 3rd pers. 4 smite, 5 smete.
c. 1150. Canterbury Ps. iii. 8. Þu ofsloʓe vel smite.
c. 1205. Lay., 8157. Þu me smite [c. 1275 smete].
a. 1325. Prose Ps. iii. 7. Þou smete alle þat were oȝains me.
13[?]. Guy Warw. (A.), 942. Gij oȝain to him smite [rhyme hete]. Ibid. (14[?]) (C.), 1196. He … smete in a grete swowne.
δ. 3–5 smette, 5 smet; 3 smatte, 4 smat.
These would normally represent an OE. *smǽtte, pa. t. of *smǽtan, corresponding to MHG. smeizen.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2684. He bi-loc hem & smette a-mong.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 607. Þe sarazins he smatte Þat his blod hatte.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 8540. Hengist ageyn anoþer smat [rhyme sat]. Ibid., 16371. Þey smette to-gedere so bitterlyke.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. 4187. Lamedoun … smet A riche cercle from his basenet.
1470. Malden Court Rolls (Bundle 47, No. 4). Turned that other ende of the forke and smette hym.
ε. 6 smytt, smitt, 6–7 smit.
1561. Machyn, Diary (Camden), 259. [It] smytt downe serten grett stones.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. ii. 18. Vpon his crest With rigour … he smitt.
1614. Gorges, Lucan, III. 115. The rowers one another smit.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. 110. Great-heart … smit the head … from his shoulders.
b. Pl. α. 1 smiton, 3–5 smiten, smyten, 4 smyton, 5 -yn; 3–4 smite, 4–5 smyte; 3–4 smitte(n, 4 smytte(n.
c. 725. Corpus Gloss., F 387. Funestauere, smiton.
c. 1205. Lay., 5183. Heo smiten to-gædere. Ibid., 30097. Mid longe sweorden heo smitten.
c. 1275. Passion our Lord, 388, in O. E. Misc., 48. Hi … smyten [him] vnder þat ere.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xiv. 5. The kingis … smytyn Raphaym.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xxxii. (Arb.), 86. His seruauntis … smyten and bete the asse.
β. 3–5 smete, 4–5 smeten, 5 smetin, -on.
c. 1275. Lay., 5183. Hii smete to-gaderes.
13[?]. Coer de L., 3988. They schotte to hem, and hard smeten.
14[?]. Guy Warw. (C.), 2897. On þer helmes þey smete.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xii. (Arb.), 27. They smeton, beten, and wounded hym.
c. Weak forms. 5 smit-, smytide, 9 smited.
1388. Wyclif, 2 Kings ix. 27. Thei smytiden hym.
1858. Kingsley, The Red King, 54, Poems 110. Tyrrel he smited full grim that day.
3. Pa. pple. α. 4 y-, 5 i-smyten; 4–6 smyten (4–5 -yn, 5 -on, -un); 3–5 smiten (4 -in, -on).
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3690. Ðor wurð ȝhe … wið lepre smiten.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter iii. 7. Þou has smyten all contrariand til me.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 378. Ysmyten wiþ goddis vengance. Ibid. (1382), Gen. xli. 6. Smytun with meldew.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 249. He … The Princes hefdes … Hath smiten of.
c. 1450. Merlin, xv. 239. Than were the saisnes … harde I-smyten.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, a vj. A crysten man had his hede smyten of.
β. 3 hii-, 3–4 y-, 3–5 i-smite; 4 i-, 4–5 y- smyte; 4 (6 arch.) smite; 4–5 (6 arch.) smyte.
c. 1275. Lay., 10855. Hii-smite he was in fihte.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6186. Þer were duntes ariȝt ismite.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 8047 (Kölbing). Mani paien to deþ [were] ysmite.
c. 1369. Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 1323. As hyt hadde smyte oures twelve.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 123. He was i-smyte wiþ a palsy.
14[?]. 26 Pol. Poems, xxvi. 117. Nowe hathe age y-smyte me.
c. 1450. Contin. Brut, 366. Þat boþe her hedis schulde be smyte of.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, II. vii. 17. Sum Greikis victouris war smyte [v.r. smite] deid.
γ. 4–5 i-smeten; 4–5 smeten, -yn, 5 -on.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 477. He was i-smeten wiþ þe vice of pride.
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 91. After prime be smeten.
14[?]. 26 Pol. Poems, xxvi. 173. Now hathe age smetyn … My thryd feder.
1485. Caxton, Chas. Gt., 44. Roulland … had smeton hys vncle.
δ. 4 i-, 5 y-smete; 4–5 smete, 5 smet.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 11920. A lymme … smete yn pallesye.
13[?]. Coer de L., 4956. How the batayle was i-smete.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 369. Þe enemyes … were i-smete wiþ blyndenesse.
14[?]. in Babees Bk., 35. With thys bytel be he smete.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 460/2. Smet, or smytyn, percussus.
ε. 4, 6– smitten, 5–6 smytten (5 -yn, 6 -yne, smyttin).
a. 1400. Cursor M., 7603. Saul has smitten a thusand.
a. 1483. in Househ. Ord. (1790), 59. That the messes be smyttyn [etc.].
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., IV. iv. 238. To make theyre hedes to be smytten of.
1551. Bible, Isaiah l. 2. Was my hande cleane smitten of?
1556. Chron. Grey Friars (Camden), 65. Hys hond was smyttyne of.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, III. § 84. 340. By Saul they were … smitten.
ζ. 5–6 smytte, 5 i-smyt, 5–6 smyt(t; 4, 6– smit.
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., xliii. 144. Al for my misdede Was he so felli smit!
1423. James I., Kingis Q., lviii. Artow seke, or smyt with Ielousye?
c. 1425. R. Gloucester’s Chron., 5254 (Digby MS.). Heueden þet were of smytte.
a. 1536. Songs, Carols, etc. (E.E.T.S.), 123. I hope this gonne was well smytt.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 29. Smit with the love of sacred song.
η. 6–7 smot, 6–9 smote; 7 smotten.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. ii. 46. Till thou in open field adowne be smot.
1597. Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 309. To be smote with the edge of the sword.
1607. Hieron, Wks., I. 473. Elah, smotten and killed while he was drinking.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 523. Turning the right cheek to him that has smote the left.
1813. T. Busby, Lucretius, II. VI. 676. What cities have they smote!
B. Signification.
I. trans. † 1. To pollute, blemish. Obs.–1
c. 725. Corpus Gloss., F 387. Funestauere, smiton.
† 2. To smear (a substance) on something. Obs.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Exod. xii. 7. Nymon of his blode and smiton on æʓðer ʓedyre.
II. 3. To administer a blow to (a person, etc.) with the hand, a stick, or the like; to strike or hit; to beat or buffet; to slap or smack. Now rhet. and rare.
c. 1160. Hatton Gosp., Matt. v. 39. ʓyf hwa þe smite on þin swiðre wænge.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 503. He smot him a litel wiȝt & bed him beon a god kniȝt.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. xxvi. 67. Thanne thei spitten in to his face, and smyten hym with buffetis.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., i. 3. He makith sorowe nowe … For he smot not þe ymage [with the arrow].
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxxii. 29. Dispituouslie syne [they] did him smyt.
a. 1608. Dee, Relat. Spirits (1659), I. 82. He smit the round Table with his rod.
1675. J. Owen, Indwelling Sin, xii. (1732), 147. The Case was the same with Asa in his Anger, when he smote the Prophet.
1718. Free-thinker, No. 109. The Fairy … smote him on the Shoulder with a Golden Wand.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, IX. 708. Oft would she smite the earth.
1841. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, viii. Half pausing for an instant now and then to smite his pocket. Ibid., xxxix. He smote Mr. Tappertit on the back.
fig. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 324. Smit him anonriht mid te ȝerde of tunge schrifte.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 310. To smyte hem with the same rodd With which I am of love smite.
1611. Bible, Jer. xviii. 18. Come and let vs smite him with the tongue. [Also in earlier versions.]
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulgar T., To smite one’s tutor, to get money from him.
b. To strike with the foot († or spur). Also said of the foot. Now rhet. or poet.
13[?]. Guy Warw. (A.), 4059. Mani he smot of fot & fest.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 3398. Sire Morice of Mounclere His stede smot [v.r. prekyd] aȝenes Sabere.
1821. Joanna Baillie, Metr. Leg., Wallace, xxxvii. And proudly smote the ground with firmer tread.
1829. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), II. 110. Happy that the virago’s foot did not even smite him.
1842. Tennyson, Morte d’Arth., 190. Juts of slippery crag that rang Sharp-smitten with the dint of armed heels.
c. To strike or touch (a harp, etc.) so as to produce musical sounds. Now poet.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, II. 777. Eke whan men harpe strynges smyte,… Loo with the stroke the ayre to-breketh.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, d j b. Then smyte youre tabur, and cry huff, huff, huff and make the fowle to spryng.
1784. Cowper, Task, V. 692. Ah, tinkling cymbal,… Smitten in vain! such music cannot charm [etc.].
1842. Tennyson, Locksley Hall, 34. Love took up the harp of Life, and … Smote the chord of Self. Ibid. (1847), Princess, IV. 38. A maid, Of those beside her, smote her harp, and sang.
† d. Naut. (See quot.) Obs.–0
a. 1625. Nomenclator Navalis (Harl. MS. 2301), s.v. Smitting, This Line is called a Smitting Line. Soe they smite the missen, that is pull the Roape that the Saile maie come downe. [Hence in Harris and later Dicts.]
4. Of the Deity, in or after Biblical use: To visit with death, destruction or overthrow; to afflict or punish in some signal manner. (Cf. 8 b.)
c. 1150. Canterbury Ps. iii. 8. Forðæn þu ofsloʓe vel smite ealle wiðerʓiende me.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter civ. 34. He smate al firstkinned in land of þa.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 189. The hond of hevene him smot In tokne of that he was forswore.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 126. Þe more þat god smyteth hem, wyth his wreche.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Sam. xxv. 38. The Lorde smote him, so yt he dyed.
1611. Bible, Ps. lxix. 25–6. Let none dwell in their tents. For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten.
1687. Abp. W. Wake, Prep. for Death, 39 (J.). For let us not mistake the goodness of God, nor imagine that because he smites us, therefore we are forsaken by him.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 464. The Governor of all … has interpos’d, Not seldom, his avenging arm, to smite Th’ injurious trampler upon nature’s law.
1843. Whittier, C. Southwick, 142. The Lord shall smite the proud, and lay His hand upon the strong.
5. To strike with a weapon, etc., so as to inflict serious injury or death; also, to strike hard with a cutting tool. Now rhet. or poet.
Freq. const. through, upon, etc. (a certain part). To smite … hip and thigh: see HIP sb.1 2 d.
c. 1205. Lay., 6503. Þe king droh his sweord,… and þet deor he smat a-nan uppe þat hæued-bæn.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 4473. Lucye þe senatour was mid a spere þoru ysmite.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6671. Qua smites man in wil to sla, He sal him-self be slan alsua.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VI. 136. He smat the first sa rygorusly Vith his spere,… Till he doun to the erd hym bare.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xi. 43. In þat place sawe Dauid þe aungell smytand þe folk with a swerde.
c. 1450. Contin. Brut, 423. There this persone smote this ffrere Randulf, and sloue hym.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, VI. iii. 46. Smyte with the ax did rair the aikis hie.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. ix. 29. Ne yeelded foote,… But being doubly smitten likewise doubly smit.
1641. G. Sandys, Paraphr. Song of Solom., V. ii. The Watch … In this pursuit the Afflicted found: Smot, wounded [etc.].
1676. Hobbes, Iliad, IV. 427. He smote was with a Spear into the Brain.
1842. Tennyson, Morte D’Arth., 25. I am so deeply smitten thro’ the helm That without help I cannot last till morn.
1844. Mrs. Browning, Drama of Exile, 64. This the sword … That smote upon the forehead, Lucifer The angel.
refl. c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 915, Thisbe. To the herte sche hire self smot.
1514. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. I. 103. The said Ranalde, with a small knyff that he had secrett, smott hym self.
fig. c. 1386. Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 66. Deeth menaceth euery age and smyt.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. ii. 35. That blinded God, which hath ye blindly smit, Another arrow hath.
1813. T. Busby, Lucretius, I. III. 1250. Great Homer lives no more, Smote, like the rest, by Time’s relentless power.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, III. 176. From my breast the involuntary sigh Brake, as she smote me with the light of eyes.
b. With compl. to death (cf. DEATH sb. 12) or dead. Also in fig. context.
c. 1200. Ormin, 14677. Abraham … hoff þe swerd … To smitenn itt [sc. Isaac] to dæde.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 8047 (Kölbing). Mani paien to deþ [were] ysmite Wiþ swerdes of stiel.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. III. 322. What smyth þat ony [weapon] smytheth be smyte þerwith to dethe.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, V. ix. 91. In the skyis [he] smate hir deid.
1819. Shelley, Lines Castlereagh Admin., ii. The abortion with which she travaileth Is Liberty, smitten to death.
1871. R. Ellis, Catullus, lxviii. 113. When those monster birds … his arrow Smote to the death.
c. In or after Biblical use: To strike, or strike down, in battle; to kill, slay.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3971. Þat quils esau smat an o þe tua Þe toþer party suld scape him fra.
1382. Wyclif, Josh. vii. 5. The whiche … ben smyten of the men of the cytee of Hay.
1560. Bible (Geneva), Josh. x. 19. Followe after your enemies, and smite all the hindemost.
1597. Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 309. He caused … the Citie of the Priests to be smote with the edge of the sword.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, III. § 84. 340. By Saul they were once, and again smitten: and finally by David they were utterly vanquished.
1754. Young, Centaur, II. Wks. 1757, IV. 136. Not Babylon alone has been smitten at a banquet, and perished in its joys.
† 6. Of birds or animals: To strike with beak, claw, horn, hoof, etc. Obs.
c. 1205. Lay., 20172. Hauekes hine [the crane] smiteð.
c. 1250. Owl & Night., 78. Al þat þu myht myd clyure smyten.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., III. met. vii. (1868), 20. Þe bee … styngeþ þe hertes of hem þat ben ysmyte.
1382. Wyclif, Exod. xxi. 28. If an oxe with the horn smyte a man.
14[?]. Lat. & Eng. Prov. (MS. Douce 52), fol. 16. While þe hors kykys war that he the ne smyte.
7. a. Of hail, lightning, flame, etc.: To strike and injure; to destroy, blast.
1382. Wyclif, Exod. ix. 25. The hawle smoot … alle that weren in feeldes,… and al erþe of the feelde smoote the hawle.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 63. Romulus was i-smyte wiþ liȝtnynge.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 3755. Whan the flawme of the verry brond … Had Bialacoil with hete smete.
1480. Robt. Devyll, 343, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 233. A man had ben as good as haue be smytten with thonder, As to haue a stroke of hys hand.
1535. Coverdale, Exod. ix. 31. Thus the flax and the barlye were smytten.
c. 1630. Milton, Arcades, 52. I … heal … what the cross dire-looking Planet smites.
1760. Sterne, Serm., III. 136. The hopeful youth…; some cruel distemper lays him prostrate upon the earth, smit and shrivelled up with a malignant blast.
1813. T. Busby, Lucretius, II. VI. 676. Eruptive winds, what cities have they smote!
1820. Shelley, Vision of Sea, 61. Six the thunder has smitten, And they lie black as mummies.
b. To beat or dash against (something).
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 248. Þe more grauel & sonde is smet & betyn wyth flodys of þe se, þe more salt & bytter it is.
1624. Quarles, Job Militant, III. 43. Which [wind] with a full-mouth Blast Hath smote the House.
1805. Wordsw., Prelude, I. 440. With the din Smitten, the precipices rang aloud.
1839. Longf., Hyperion, ii. 6. The storm-wind smites the wall of the mountain cliff.
c. Of sunlight, etc.: To beat or shine strongly upon. Also in fig. context.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. iii. 28. As thy eye beames, when their fresh rayse haue smot The night of dew [etc.].
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 244. Where the morning Sun first warmly smote The open field.
1788. Anna Seward, Lett. (1811), II. 107. On an open plain smote by the summer’s sun.
1832. Tennyson, Œnone, 54. Far up the solitary morning smote The streaks of virgin snow.
1884. W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 43. Till a broad beam of the garish light Smote with a glory her golden hair.
8. Of diseases, distempers, etc.: To attack, affect suddenly or grievously. Freq. in pa. pple., and const. by or with (a malady, etc.).
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3690. Ðor wurð ȝhe ðanne wið lepre smiten.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 11920. A lymme þat ys … smete yn pallesye.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 123. Constantyn was i-smyte wiþ a strong meselrie.
c. 1425. Cursor M., 11817 (Trin.). Þe palesy smoot his oon side.
1663. S. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr, xxxi. (1687), 379. You may as well desire … to have a Dead Palsie smite your loyns.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1877), II. 446. Abbot Mannig … had been smitten by paralysis.
transf. 1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), II. 179. A province considered even at Petersburg as smitten with sterility.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. I. i. A France smitten … with plague after plague.
b. Of personal agents, or of the Deity (cf. 4).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20957. A jugelur wit blindnes he smat.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 126. Þey se noȝt how god smyt hem in here body, wyth sykenes & tribulacyoun.
1535. Coverdale, Zech. xiv. 12. This shalbe the plage, wherwith ye Lorde wil smyte all people.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 30. He forgat himselfe, till the Lord smot him with the plague.
9. To infect, imbue, impress, strike suddenly or strongly with some feeling or sentiment. Chiefly in pa. pple.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 15643. Wit strang dred he smiton was.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 136. Withoute good discrecioun This king with avarice is smite.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., lviii. Artow seke, or smyt with Ielousye?
1535. Coverdale, Job xxi. 6. I am afrayed, and my flesh is smytten with feare.
1622. Fletcher, Prophetess, III. i. (1679), 567/1. ’Twas I that cast a dark face over heaven, And smote ye all with terrour.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 562. But Satan smitten with amazement fell.
1718. Pope, Iliad, I. 354. Smit with love of honourable deeds.
1829. Hood, E. Aram, 50. The Usher took six hasty strides, As smit with sudden pain.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., i. I. 7. Tyrants, who, when at the height of greatness, were smitten with remorse.
10. Of the heart, conscience, etc.: To discompose or disquiet (one); to affect painfully.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Sam. xxiv. 10. The herte of Dauid smoot hym, aftir that the puple is noumbred.
1611. Bible, 1 Sam. xxiv. 5. Dauids heart smote him, because he had cut off Sauls skirt.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 5 May 1659. My heart smote me for it.
1805–6. Cary, Dante’s Inf., XIX. 121. Meanwhile, as thus I sung, he, whether wrath Or conscience smote him, violent upsprang.
1886. ‘H. Conway,’ Living or Dead, II. v. I said good-bye with a coldness for which my heart smote me.
b. To distress or perturb (a person, the mind, conscience, etc.).
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, XI. 1366. Thi febyll wordis sall nocht my conscience smyt.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Sam. xxiv. 5. It smote him afterwarde in his hert, because he had cut of the typpe of Sauls garment.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., V. ii. 104. A greefe that smites [pr. suites] My very heart at roote.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, VII. xxii. Her flight … smote my lonesome heart more than all misery.
11. To strike or impress (the mind, etc.) favorably or attractively. Chiefly in pa. pple. and const. with.
1663. S. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr. (1687), 158. They note the pretty stories, the apt similitudes, and here and there a small sentence which smites their fancy.
1728. Pope, Dunc., III. 229. See now, what Dulness and her sons admire! See what the charms, that smite the simple heart.
1784. Cowper, Task, V. 560. Smit with the beauty of so fair a scene.
1847. H. Miller, Test. Rocks (1857), 3. Smit by the singular ingenuity of the philosophic infidel.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 191. Plato is smitten with some features of government which he finds in Egypt.
b. To inspire or inflame with love; to enamor. Chiefly in pa. pple. and const. with or by.
1663. Pepys, Diary, 1 Jan. Lord Chesterfield … is … put away from Court upon the score of his lady’s having smitten the Duke of Yorke.
1677. Miége, Fr. Dict., II. s.v., To smite a man, or cause him to fall in love with her. Ibid. (1687), Gt. Fr. Dict., II. s.v., To be smitten with a Woman, to be passionately in love with her.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 80, ¶ 3. Phillis one Day … smote the Heart of a gay West Indian.
1755. Mem. Capt. P. Drake, II. xiv. 243. He soon gave me to understand he was smitten with the Landlady.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xvii. Young Lieutenant Spatterdash … was evidently and quickly smitten by Mrs. Crawley.
1871. B. Taylor, Faust, I. iii. (1875), II. 32. Hath one of you a girl with whom he’s smitten?
12. Of thoughts: To strike or occur suddenly to (a person).
1870. W. M. Baker, New Timothy, x. 104. ‘Look here, child,’ went on Mrs. General Likens, as a sudden thought smote her.
III. 13. To strike or cut off (the head, a limb, etc.) with a slashing blow. (Common in ME.)
c. 1205. Lay., 9204. He lette smiten him of þæt hæfde.
c. 1275. Passion our Lord, 198, in O. E. Misc., 43. Seynte peter … smot of Malkes ere.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1817, Lucrece. Men myghte smyte of hire arm or hed.
c. 1450. Merlin, xiv. 222. He and Frelent were besy to smyte of his heed.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 674. He … commaunded his heade there to be smitten off.
a. 1618. Raleigh, Mahomet (1637), 203. With his own hands cut his throat and smoat off his head.
b. To strike or knock, to drive or force with a blow or stroke, away, back, from, off, out, over, etc. (Common in ME.) Also transf.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6705. Qua smites vte his thains eie.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. x. 14. Smytith awey the dust fro ȝoure feet.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, I. 438. How he lost hys steris-man, Which that the stere … Smote ouer borde.
14[?]. 26 Pol. Poems, xxvi. 73. Now hathe age y-smete me fro My pryncipall feder of Iolyte.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, III. vi. 106. Syre gauayne smote hym of his hors.
1535. Coverdale, Susanna i. 25. Then ranne there one to the orcharde dore, & smote it open.
1559. Machyn, Diary (Camden), 207. Hytt brust in pesses, and on pesse … smott on of ys leg[s] a-way.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 393. Repressing or smiting backe the swelling incident to wounds.
1684. [see A. 2 a. ε].
14. To knock, beat or strike down († adown), to the earth or ground. (Common in ME.)
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 316. Hov is þat hit … smit a-doun wel grete treon?
a. 1300. K. Horn, 639. Hi gonne me assaille,… I smot hem alle to grunde.
a. 1400. Lybeaus Disc., 1185. Thre stedes heoddes doun ryght, He smot at strokes thre.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, XI. 172. To ground he smat him quhar he stud.
1530. Palsgr., 723/1. This wynde hath smytten downe almost all my corne.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. i. 28. With that her mortall speare She mightily auentred towards one, And downe him smot.
1611. Bible, Judges xx. 39. Surely they are smitten downe before vs.
1858. Sears, Athan., II. xii. 250. He … smote him blind to the earth beneath the blaze.
fig. c. 1330. in Pol. Songs (Camden), 339. That is muchel reuthe to wite, That alle manere godnesse is thus adoun i-smite.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. cxlii[i]. 3. For the enemie … smyteth my life downe to the grounde.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), IV. 249. The last hopes of the House of Godwine had been smitten to the ground.
† b. With down. To droop or lower (one’s head or countenance). Obs.
c. 1305. in Wright, Pol. Songs (Camden), 193. When the Kyng of Fraunce y-herde this tydynge, He smot doun is heved.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. 540. With that he smot his heed adoun anone, And gan to motre.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, III. (Arb.), 80. Downe she smote her visadge.
15. a. To hew, cut, chop or break in pieces, fragments, etc. Const. with preps., as a, in, on, to. Also in fig. context. (Common in ME.)
a. 1320. Sir Tristrem, 495. Þe chine he smot atvo.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 21593 (Fairf.). In foure pecis þai hit smate.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 109. A firy thonder sodeinly He sende, and him to pouldre smot.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xxxii. 126. Smite the gurdill [of lechery] in thre, scil. in prayer, fastyng, and almesdede.
1530. Palsgr., 723/1. He hath smytten his harnayes al to peces.
1611. Bible, Ecclus. xxxvi. 10. Smite in sunder the heads of the rulers of the heathen, that say, There is none other but we.
b. To bring into a certain condition by, or as by, striking. Also with adj. compl. rare.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 46. Þei were a partie smyten in to elde.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 67. If we look not wisely on the Sun it self, it smites us into darknes.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. III. vii. Rabidity smites others rabid.
† 16. a. To strike (fire) from a stone or other hard substance. Cf. SLAY v.1 2. Obs.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 237. He brouȝte a fuyr-Ire ant a ston, Þare-with to smite me fuyr.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., lxvi. 298. Whan þe nyȝt com, þe maide … smot fire at a stone.
1616. B. Jonson, Barriers, Wks. 966. When in a day of honour fire was smit.
1671. J. Webster, Metallogr., vii. 115. He nameth four of other colours, forth of which fire is smitten.
† b. To let out (blood) by lancing. Obs.–1
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 58. Take a bloud-yren, and set it streight vppon the vayne, and smyte him bloudde on bothe sydes.
17. To strike, deal or give (a blow, stroke, etc.).
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 4441. Vewe duntes hii smite.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 1148. Grete boffetes among me him smot.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 72. Thei smyten strokes bot a fewe.
c. 1450. Merlin, xxiii. 424. Merlin … drough that wey … smytinge grete strokes from oke to oke.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, lvi. 152. She smotte grete strokes with her swerde.
1851. Hawthorne, Snow Image, etc. (1879), 84. A terrible blow shall be smitten.
† b. To engage in or fight (a battle). Obs.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 269. Hii smite þer an bataile hard an strong inou.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 14. Under Elendoune þe bataile was smyten.
a. 1470. Harding, Chron., CXVII. i. 6. Syxe batayles agayne King Knout he smote.
1600. Holland, Livy, XL. l. 1991. [He] smit a brave and fortunate battaile with the Vaccei.
1631. Weever, Anc. Funeral Mon., 317. This battell was smitten in the years of Grace 457.
† c. To make or produce (a wound, etc.) by smiting. Obs.
a. 1400. Stockh. Medical MS. i. 298, in Anglia, XVIII. 302. Ȝif a grot wounde … be … with a wepyn wyckydly smetyn.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, II. xviii. 97. They hadde eyther smyten other seuen grete woundes.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Sam. xix. 8. Dauid wente forth … and smote a greate slaughter, so that they fled before him.
1581. Munday, Brief Discourse, in Arb., Garner, VIII. 215, note. Drawing his dagger, he smit a great hole in it.
18. To drive, hammer, knock, strike (a thing) with some degree of force against, into, on, etc., something else.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6261. In þe see his wand he smat.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 4422. Nemny bar þe scheld o sker, & Iulius smot his swerd ouer fer.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3678. Smeten was smaragdans in-to þe smeth werkis.
1502. Arnolde, Chron., 165. Make pinnys of wylowe and smyte them faste in.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 176 (1594), C. His Faulchon on a flint he softly smiteth.
1611. Bible, Judges iv. 21. Then Iael … went softly vnto him, and smote the naile into his temples.
1670. Pettus, Fodinæ Reg., 41. Then the Smiter of Irons … smites them upon the Monie.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. IV. ii. Large clubs, which they smite angrily against the pavement! Ibid., II. I. xii. Each smiting heartily his palm into his fellow’s.
b. To strike, dash or clap together († samen) or against each other.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11998. Iesus samen [Trin. togider] his handes smat.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIX. cxlii. (1495), 946. Cymbales … ben smytte togider and sowneth and ryngeth.
1535. Coverdale, Ecclus. xiii. 2. Yf ye one be smytten agaynst the other, it shal be broken.
1611. Bible, Numb. xxiv. 10. Hee smote his hands together.
1671. J. Webster, Metallogr., vi. 102. Which rubbed hard or smitten together forcibly,… give sparks of fire.
1842. Tennyson, Morte d’Arth., 86. But when he saw the wonder of the hilt,… he smote His palms together.
† c. refl. (Cf. sense 24.) Obs.
c. 1205. Lay., 25605. Þes drake and beore … smiten heom togaderen mid feondliche ræsen.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8323. Hii bisegede vaste the toun, so þat the þridde day Þe cristine ost smot him out.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 120. So that ayein a Roche of Ston … He smot himself til he was ded.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, lx. 158. [They] ranne soone to fetche theyr armures. And thenne Turnus smote hym selfe in to the troians.
† d. In pa. pple. Stuck (full) of, studded or set thickly (with). Obs.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 5424. With corouns on hede, As it smytten ware all … of smaragdens fine.
c. 1460. Contin. Brut, 518. His brigantines smytten ful of gylted nayles.
† 19. a. To make or contract (an agreement, etc.).
c. 1325. Lai le Freine, 322. Treuthe [was] plight. Allas! that he no hadde y-wite, Er the forward were y-smite.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxi. 27. Bothe thei smyten a boond of pees.
1596. H. Clapham, Briefe Bible, I. 31. IEHOVAH appeareth and smiteth a Couenant with him.
† b. To strike or coin (money). Obs.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 238. Edward did smyte rounde peny, halfpeny, ferthyng.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 138. Er gold was smite In Coign.
1423. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 258/1. That the Maister of the Mynte do smyte … half nobles.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Macc. xv. 6. I geue the leaue to smyte money of thine owne.
† c. To hew or cut (a step). Obs. rare.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3342. Of a Smeth smaragadane Smyten was þe toþir [step].
† d. To cut off (a helping of meat). Obs. rare.
a. 1483. Liber Niger, in Househ. Ord. (1790), 59. That the messes … be smyttyn in a suffycyaunt and according manner.
† 20. a. To strike (an hour); to announce or notify by sounding a bell. Obs. (Cf. 21 c.)
c. 1369. Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 1323. In the castell ther was a belle, As hyt hadde smyte oures twelve Therewyth I a-wooke my selve.
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 60. Ho-so komys aftyr prime be smytyn, he xal pay … j. d.
c. 1450. in Aungier, Syon (1840), 373. Whylst … the president smytethe allign [sc. all in], the couente schal stonde in the freytour.
† b. To discharge (a cannon). Obs. rare.
c. 1450–75. in Halliw., E. Eng. Misc. (Warton Cl.), 52. That gonne was welle smet, Thoȝ it had be with a stonne.
IV. absol. or intr. 21. To deal or give a blow or blows; to strike, deliver strokes. Also with advs., as on, out. † Of a horse: To kick or fling.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 61. Bute we turnen to gode … he wile smite mid bredlinge swuerde.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 316. No wonder þei it smite harde.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 404. A lokeþ, as a wolde smite Wiþ is bat.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Esdras iv. 8. If he seie to smyten, thei smite.
14[?]. Guy Warw., 10248. Mases of yron … for to smyte wele.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, III. 363. ‘Smyt on,’ he said, ‘I defy thine actioune.’
1530. Palsgr., 723/1. You smyte to harde.
1535. Coverdale, Luke xxii. 49. Lorde, shal we smyte with the swerde?
1600. Surflet, Countrie Farme, I. xxviii. 178. If he see that he beginne not to smite and snort…, he shall leade him by the reines out of the stable.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 250. Satan … Saw where the Sword of Michael smote.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. VI. iii. Louis … clutched the tongs, and even smote with them.
1891. Conan Doyle, White Company, vii. 79–80. There was one, indeed, Sir Peter, who smote out like a true man.
fig. c. 1400. Beryn, 1456. Yeur wyff woll sikirliche … smyte with hir tunge.
1624. Quarles, Sion’s Elegies, II. xix. That God that smit, oh, mooue that God to heale.
b. To strike with a hammer in doing smith-work; now spec. to strike with the sledge.
1388. Wyclif, Isaiah xli. 7. A smyth of metal smytynge with an hamer.
1560. Bible (Geneva), Ibid. So the workeman comforted the founder, & he that smote with the hammer, him that smote by course.
1881. T. Hardy, Laodicean, I. iv. The husband used to smite for Jimmy More the blacksmith.
1888. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., 685. The smith hammers, the assistant smites.
† c. Of a clock: To strike, chime. Obs.
1448–9. in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), I. 383. He wold … neuer go to werke till the clocke smyte.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XIV. xii. 681. Thenne he herde a clok smyte on his ryght hand.
c. 1550. Coverdale, Order of Church in Denmark, in trans. Calvin’s Treat. Sacrament, E iij b. Whan the clocke smyteth (which is comenly .vii. in Sommer, & .viii. in wynter).
22. To strike, deliver a blow or stroke, etc., at, on, or upon (also † to) something.
c. 1205. Lay., 23963. Frolle … a-dun riht sloh, and smat an Arðures sceld.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 231. He gan i-mete þis luþere fisch, and smot to him faste.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 1043. So harde þe smitest vpon me kroun.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, III. vii. (Skeat), l. 99. So ofte must men on the oke smyte, til the happy dent have entred.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, III. 1204. [Menelaus] smette at him with his scharpe swerde Vp-on þe hede.
c. 1450. Merlin, xxxi. 624. Ye shull smyte vpon hem of that other partye.
1535. Coverdale, Jer. xxxi. 19. I shall smyte vpon my thee.
1611. Bible, Exod. vii. 17. I will smite with the rod that is in my hand, vpon the waters which are in the riuer, and they shalbe turned to blood.
transf. 1842. Tennyson, Locksley Hall, 33. Love took up the harp of Life, and smote on all the chords with might.
b. Of things, in lit. or fig. uses.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. 5075. On hillis hiȝe gan his bemys smyte.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 298. The torrid Clime Smote on him sore besides.
1837. Whittier, Fountain, 88. Iron clang and hammer’s ringing Smote upon his ear.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., I. iii. 36. The words smote heavily on Eliza’s heart.
† 23. To come together (or samen) in conflict.
c. 1205. Lay., 5183. Heo smiten to-gædere; helmes þere gullen.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2109. Ðe ranc he hauen ðo ouercumen, To-samen it smiten.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Esdras ii. 22. Kingis and cites smitende togidere.
14[?]. Guy Warw., 1893. Now þey smyten laste samen: I wot, ther was lytull gamen.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, IV. xviii. 142. [They] smote to gyders with her swerdes that her sheldes flewe in cantels.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. v. 8. As when a Gryfon … A Dragon fiers encountreth…: With hideous horrour both together smight.
b. To come together with some degree of force; to strike or dash on or against something.
c. 1275. Lay., 1788. Þe sipes smiten o þan strond.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 69. And euere þat watur bi-hinden him smot to-gadere þere.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xxvii. (Bodl. MS.). By hardenes of boones þat smyteþ and moueþ togedres.
1535. Coverdale, Dan. v. 6. His knees smote one agaynst the other.
1611. Bible, Nahum ii. 10. The heart melteth, and the knees smite together.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, IV. i. The old man took the oars, and soon the bark Smote on the beach.
† 24. To shoot or move rapidly; to dart, rush.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 507, in O. E. Misc. Vt of his ðrote it smit an onde.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 94. Ase swifte … ase is þe sunne gleam, þet smit from east into þe west.
13[?]. K. Alis., 494 (Laud MS.). Þe lyoun smoot in to þe Est.
1481. Caxton, Godfrey, cxxx. 194. Thyse thre smote in emong the .xxx. turkes.
25. To strike, to pass or penetrate, in, into, or through something.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 316. Ȝwane þe wynd and þat fuyr smileth þoruȝ þe watur-cloude.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 362. The deeth he feeleth thurgh his herte smyte.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XX. 323. Þe smoke and þe smorþre þat smyt in oure eyen.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 377. In my face the levening smate.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 11824 (Trin.). Þe fester smoot þourȝe his body.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Sam. xix. 10. The iauelynge smote in the wall.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., vi. 187. From whence the objects of dread and admiration … smite and insinuate themselves into their senses.
1869. Tennyson, Coming Arthur, 57. But Arthur … Felt the light of her eyes into his life Smite on the sudden.
† b. To give pain to one’s heart. Obs.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 1481. Hit smot to hornes herte So bitere þat hit smerte.
c. 1450. Coventry Myst., 81. Ȝour swemynge smytyht to myn hert depe.
† c. To occur suddenly to one. Obs.
c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 20. It smate in his mynd þat it was bod ane illusion of þe devull.
† 26. To change, pass, fall, into something. Obs.
c. 1305. St. Dunstan, 74, in E. E. P. (1862), 36. Treoflinge heo smot her and þer in anoþer tale sone.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1763. With smoþe smylyng & smolt þay smeten in-to merþe.
14[?]. Guy Warw. (C.), 1196. To þe erthe he felle downe And smete in a grete swowne.
