v. t. [ imp. Smote rarely Smit p. p. Smitten rarely Smit, or Smote; p. pr. & vb. n. Smiting ] [ AS. smītan to smite, to soil, pollute; akin to OFries. smīta to smite, LG. smiten, D. smijten, G. schmeissen, OHG. smīzan to smear, stroke, OSw. & dial. Sw. smita to smite, Dan. smide to throw, Goth. bismeitan, to anoint, besmear; cf. Skr. mēd 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. [ 1913 Webster ] Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matt. v. 39. [ 1913 Webster ] And David . . . took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead. 1 Sam. xvii. 49. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To cause to strike; to use as an instrument in striking or hurling. [ 1913 Webster ] Prophesy, and smite thine hands together. Ezek. xxi. 14. [ 1913 Webster ] Saul . . . smote the javelin into the wall. 1 Sam. xix. 10. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. To put to rout in battle; to overthrow by war. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. To blast; to destroy the life or vigor of, as by a stroke or by some visitation. [ 1913 Webster ] The flax and the barly was smitten. Ex. ix. 31. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. To afflict; to chasten; to punish. [ 1913 Webster ] Let us not mistake God's goodness, nor imagine, because he smites us, that we are forsaken by him. Wake. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. To strike or affect with passion, as love or fear. [ 1913 Webster ] The charms that smite the simple heart. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ] Smit with the love of sister arts we came. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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