Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Smite?

\Smite\ (sm[imac]t), v. t. [imp. {Smote} (sm[=o]t), rarely {Smit} (sm[i^]t); p. p. {Smitten} (sm[i^]t"t'n), rarely {Smit}, or {Smote}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Smiting} (sm[imac]t"[i^]ng).] [AS. sm[=i]tan to smite, to soil, pollute; akin to OFries. sm[=i]ta to smite, LG. smiten, D. smijten, G. schmeissen, OHG. sm[=i]zan to smear, stroke, OSw. & dial. Sw. smita to smite, Dan. smide to throw, Goth. bismeitan, to anoint, besmear; cf. Skr. m[=e]d to be fat. The original sense seems to have been, to daub on, to smear. Cf. {Smut}.] 1. To strike; to inflict a blow upon with the hand, or with any instrument held in the hand, or with a missile thrown by the hand; as, to smite with the fist, with a rod, sword, spear, or stone. Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. --Matt. v. 39. And David . . . took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead. --1 Sam. xvii. 49. 2. To cause to strike; to use as an instrument in striking or hurling. Prophesy, and smite thine hands together. --Ezek. xxi. 14. Saul . . . smote the javelin into the wall. --1 Sam. xix. 10. 3. To destroy the life of by beating, or by weapons of any kind; to slay by a blow; to kill; as, to smite one with the sword, or with an arrow or other instrument. 4. To put to rout in battle; to overthrow by war. 5. To blast; to destroy the life or vigor of, as by a stroke or by some visitation. The flax and the barly was smitten. --Ex. ix. 31. 6. To afflict; to chasten; to punish. Let us not mistake God's goodness, nor imagine, because he smites us, that we are forsaken by him. --Wake. 7. To strike or affect with passion, as love or fear. The charms that smite the simple heart. --Pope. Smit with the love of sister arts we came. --Pope. {To smite off}, to cut off. {To smite out}, to knock out, as a tooth. --Exod. xxi. 27. {To smite with the tongue}, to reproach or upbraid; to revile. [Obs.] --Jer. xviii. 18.
\Smite\, v. i. To strike; to collide; to beat. [Archaic] The heart melteth, and the knees smite together. --Nah. ii. 10.
\Smite\, n. The act of smiting; a blow.