v.
Pronunciation: ' sm ī t
Function: verb
Inflected Form: smote \ ' sm ō t \ ; smit · ten \ ' smi-t ə n \ or smote ; smit · ing \ ' sm ī -ti ŋ \
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sm ī tan to smear, defile; akin to Old High German bi sm ī zan to defile
Date: 12th century
transitive verb
1 : to strike sharply or heavily especially with the hand or an implement held in the hand
2 a : to kill or severely injure by smiting b : to attack or afflict suddenly and injuriously < smitten by disease>
3 : to cause to strike
4 : to affect as if by striking <children smitten with the fear of hell ― V. L. Parrington>
5 : CAPTIVATE , TAKE < smitten with her beauty>
intransitive verb : to deliver or deal a blow with or as if with the hand or something held
– smit · er \ ' sm ī -t ə r \ noun