[f. SMOTHER v. + -ING2.] That smothers, in various senses.
1. a. Of smoke, etc.: Stifling, suffocating.
a. 1200. St. Marher., 9. In his ihurnd heauet … þreaste smeorðrinde smoke ut, smeeche forcuðest.
1401. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 54. Ther rose smotheryng smoke, and brese therinne. Ibid. The smorthering smoke is ȝour dymme doctrine.
c. 1475. Partenay, 3303. The smoky fume smorthering so was, The Abbay it toke.
1575. Churchyard, Chippes, M vj b. A second hell For smothryng smoke, for shot and fiery flame.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XIV. 340. The whirling ship is … all in clouds of smoth’ring sulphur lost.
1831. Scott, Cast. Dang., xvii. Free from the smothering atmosphere which had before oppressed her like that of a charnel-house.
1863. Princess Alice, Mem. (1884), 57. We went … to see the different machines at work, in a crowd close round us and a smothering heat.
b. Smoldering; burning slowly.
1563. Foxe, A. & M., 1048/1. Greene woode, and other smotheryng rather then burnyng fewel.
1621. G. Sandys, Ovid’s Met., VIII. (1626), 167. Who stird abroad the glowing coles, that lay In smothering ashes.
1635. Quarles, Embl., II. xiv. What fenny trash maintaines the smoth’ring fires Of his desires!
1681. Flavel, Method Grace, x. 229. Let not your troubles lye like a secret smothering fire always in your own breasts.
2. Covering (or suppressing) completely and overwhelmingly. Also fig.
1586. Marlowe, 1st Pt. Tamburl., III. i. The spring is hindred by your smoothering host.
1591. Horsey, Trav. (Hakl.), 257. The innocent bloud spilt in that smotheringe tyme of tiranie.
1805. R. W. Dickson, Pract. Agric., I. 370. If ground can be covered with such smothering crops of the fallow kind.
1851. Trench, Poems (1862), 19. As from beneath the smothering earth The seed strives upward to a birth.
1899. Rodway, Guiana Wilds, 113. Fire … covered with green leaves; unable to escape from its smothering burden.
3. Characterized by suffocation from smoke, etc.
1864. G. W. Harrison, in Daily Telegr., 30 Aug., 3/3. The Tennessee … surrendered,… [with] her crew in an exhausted and smothering condition.
Hence Smotheringly adv.
1778. Exmoor Gloss., Smuggle, to hug violently, smotheringly.
1857. Chamb. Jrnl., VIII. 71. Two little arms tight round her neck, smotheringly expressing a wealth of love.
