/ smaɪt; NAmE / verb ( smote / sməʊt; NAmE smoʊt/, smit·ten / ˈsmɪtn; NAmE /) [ vn ] ( old use or literary )
1.
to hit sb/sth hard; to attack or punish sb
2.
to have a great effect on sb, especially an unpleasant or serious one
—see also smitten
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English smītan to smear, blemish , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch smijten and German schmeissen to fling.