smite

verb

\ ˈsmīt

smote\ ˈsmōt

\; smitten\ ˈsmi-tᵊn

\ or smote; smiting\ ˈsmī-tiŋ

Definition of smite

transitive verb

1 : to strike sharply or heavily especially with the hand or an implement held in the hand

2a : 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

Other Words from smite Synonyms On Smite, Smote, and Smitten Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about smite

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On Smite, Smote, and Smitten

Smote is the past tense form of the verb smite, which is most frequently used to mean "to strike sharply or heavily especially with the hand or with something held in the hand," or "to kill or severely injure by striking in such a way." Smite has two past participle forms (the form used with have and be), smitten and smote, as in "a villain who was smitten/smote by a sword." The former is more common.

It's an old-fashioned word that most modern English users encounter only in literature, and especially in older translations of the Bible, such as the King James Version:

And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
— Numbers 20:11

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
— 1 Samuel 17:50

And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.
— 1 Chronicles 13:10

And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
— Acts 12:23

The present tense form is found in the same kinds of contexts:

But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities: Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.
— Deuteronomy 19:11-12

Smite comes from an Old English word meaning “to smear or defile,” and the meanings of the word continued to have negative connotations as the word moved from Old English to Middle English and on to Early Modern English. Most of its meanings over the centuries have had to do with striking, hitting, injuring, punishing, or afflicting someone. The following is a very partial list of the kinds of things people were getting smitten with in books in the first half of the 17th century: leprosy, death, the plague, blindness, fear, sorrow, remorse, a most stinking and vile disease, ulcers, boils, the sword, fiery darts from heaven, the pox, barrenness, angels, God’s displeasure/hand/scourges/rod/terrible thunderbolts/wrath.

It was clearly not a very good time to be smitten. But in the middle of the 17th century there began to be signs that getting smitten might not be so bad after all. The word smitten, that past participle form of smite, was taking on new meaning:

Me-thinks from utmost Inns of Court I see
Young Amorists smitten with Bellesa's look
Caught by the Gills, and fastned to your Book.
—Walter Montagu, The Shepheard’s Paradise, 1659

But smitten with love on sweet Jenny he gaz'd,
and beg'd on his knees that she there would remain….
—(Anon.), The Amorous Gallant, 1655

Around 1650, smitten began to refer not simply to being struck, but to being struck with affection or longing. This sense existed for hundreds of years alongside all the senses one would rather avoid. But the fact that smite had dissimilar meanings does not seem to have confused many people. (We have no evidence, for example, of an exchange like this: “I found myself smitten.” “Wait… do you mean you’re in love, or do you mean that God’s displeasure has rained fiery darts of leprosy from heaven upon you? Very confused here.”)

By the late 18th century, smitten was being used as a full-blown adjective with the meaning "deeply affected with or struck by strong feelings of attraction, affection, or infatuation." It continued (and continues still) to function as a past participle of smite, as does smote. Smote is, however, most often used as the past tense of smite.

In summary, we'll close with a short guide to the 21st century forms of smite:

You plan on inflicting dire and retributive punishment on someone: “I will smite you.”

A man has inflicted dire and retributive punishment on you: “He smote me.”

You are in love (or you have experienced a plague of frogs): “I have been smitten.”

Did You Know?

Smite has been part of the English language for a very long time; the earliest documented use in print dates to the 12th century. The word can be traced back to an Old English word meaning "to smear or defile" and is a distant relative of the Scottish word smit, meaning "to stain, contaminate, or infect." In addition to the straightforward "strike" and "attack" senses, smite also has a softer side. It can mean "to captivate or take"-a sense that is frequently used in the past participle in such contexts as "smitten by her beauty" or "smitten with him" (meaning "in love with him").

Examples of smite in a Sentence

He vowed that he would smite his enemy. Misfortune smote him and all his family. He smote the ball mightily.

Recent Examples on the Web

Ryan is instantly smitten, and expresses interest in taking the relationship to the next level. — Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, "'See You Soon': Film Review," 23 July 2019 The harshest critics likened lusting after #IceBae to being smitten with a concentration camp guard. — Emma Grey Ellis, WIRED, "The #IceBae Meme Captures the Worst of 2019 So Far," 17 July 2019 If the couple's joint appearance at the Pitch@Palace event, which was hosted by Prince Andrew, is anything to go by, Mozzi and Beatrice appear to be smitten with one another. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Princess Beatrice Is Reportedly "Head Over Heels" for Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi," 23 June 2019 Rowell was first smitten with bicycles growing up in northern Vermont. — Brion O’connor, BostonGlobe.com, "For the road less traveled, try a gravel bike," 10 July 2019 Perot was smitten by a dog act that the family saw at a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus show in Florida. — Cheryl Hall, Dallas News, "Remembering Ross Perot — and the circus dog, traveling outhouse and other tales he left behind," 10 July 2019 View Sample Sign Up Now The internet was instantly smitten with the new—or at least previously unknown— garlic-peeling technique. — Melissa Locker, Time, "Intense Garlic Hack Has Captivated the Internet and People Have Never Been More Pumped to Peel," 17 June 2019 To say Alex Rodriguez is smitten with his fiancée Jennifer Lopez would be an understatement. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "Alex Rodriguez Said 20 Years Ago That His Dream Date Was With Jennifer Lopez," 6 June 2019 Molière’s mischievous twist is that Alceste is smitten with the sparkly Celimene, queen of the takedown. — Nelson Pressley, Washington Post, "‘A Misanthrope’ brings Molière’s fabulous fakes into the 21st century," 5 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'smite.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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smite

Definition of smite

Other Words from smite

Synonyms for smite

On Smite, Smote, and Smitten

Did You Know?

Examples of smite in a Sentence

First Known Use of smite

History and Etymology for smite

smite

Definition of smite

Other Words from smite

Synonyms for smite

On Smite, Smote, and Smitten

Did You Know?

Examples of smite in a Sentence

First Known Use of smite

History and Etymology for smite

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