[stroke] vt stroked ; strok.ing [ME, fr. OE stracian; akin to OHG strihhan to stroke--more at strike] (bef. 12c) 1: to rub gently in one direction; also: caress
2: to flatter or pay attention to in a manner designed to reassure or persuade -- strok.er n
[2]stroke n [ME; akin to OE strican to stroke--more at strike] (13c) 1: the act of striking; esp: a blow with a weapon or implement
2: a single unbroken movement; esp: one of a series of repeated or to-and-fro movements 3 a: a controlled swing intended to hit a ball or shuttlecock; also: a striking of the ball b: such a stroke charged to a player as a unit of scoring in golf
4. a: a sudden action or process producing an impact "~ of lightning" b: an unexpected result "~ of luck"
5: sudden diminution or loss of consciousness, sensation, and voluntary motion caused by rupture or obstruction (as by a clot) of an artery of the brain--called also apoplexy
6. a: one of a series of propelling beats or movements against a resisting medium "a ~ of the oar" b: a rower who sets the pace for a crew
7. a: a vigorous or energetic effort "a ~ of genius" b: a delicate or clever touch in a narrative, description, or construction 8: heartbeat 9: the movement or the distance of the movement in either direction of a mechanical part (as a piston) having a reciprocating motion 10: the sound of a bell being struck "at the ~ of twelve" 11 [[1]stroke]: an act of stroking or caressing 12 a: a mark or dash made by a single movement of an implement b: one of the lines of a letter of the alphabet [3]stroke vb stroked ; strok.ing vt (1597) 1 a: to mark with a short line "~ the t's" b: to cancel by drawing a line through "stroked out his name"
2: to set the stroke for (a rowing crew); also: to set the stroke for the crew of (a rowing boat)
3: hit; esp: to propel (a ball) with a controlled swinging blow ~ vi 1: to execute a stroke
2: to row at a certain number of strokes a minute