I. ˈsmī]t, usu ]d.+V verb
( smote ˈsmō] ; or archaic smit ˈsmi] ; smit·ten ˈsmit ə n ; or smit or smote ; smiting ; smites )
Etymology: Middle English smiten, from Old English smītan; akin to Middle Dutch smiten to strike, throw, Old High German bi smīzan to defile, stain, Old Swedish smēta to daub, smear, spread, Gothic bi smeitan to anoint, Greek smēn to wipe off, cleanse, smēchein to wash off, clean, Armenian mic dirt, and perhaps to Latin mittere to let go, send, Avestan hamista cast down, suppressed; basic meaning: to rub, throw
transitive verb
1.
a. : to strike usually hard especially with the hand or something held in the hand
blacksmiths smiting the anvil — Havelock Ellis
smote the side of his head with his palm — Pearl Buck
b. : to knock down
to smite an enemy to the ground
c. archaic : to strike or pluck (as the strings of a harp) to produce musical sound
the minstrel smote his harp and sang
d. : to shine upon suddenly
morning sunlight smote for the first time mankind's very first space craft — W.F.Jenkins
2.
a. : to kill or severely injure by or as if by smiting : afflict with sudden calamity, destruction, or injury
b. : to inflict punishment (as destruction, death, or severe injury) upon as if by a stroke
c. : to attack or afflict suddenly and injuriously
the herd was smitten by foot-and-mouth disease — Irish Digest
3. : to cause to strike
smote his hand against his thigh
smite cymbals together
4. : to affect as if by striking forcefully or abruptly : impress suddenly
little children smitten with the fear of hell — V.L.Parrington
smitten by the view from a crossing ferry — Newsweek
her conscience smote her that she should have so much and they should have so little — Rebecca West
intransitive verb
: to deliver or deal a usually heavy blow with or as if with the hand or something held in the hand
the child over 16 who cursed or smote at parents might incur the death penalty — American Guide Series: New Jersey
Synonyms: see strike
II. noun
( -s )
: a heavy blow : a smiting with a hand, weapon, or implement