smite

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /smaɪt/ UK /smaɪt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to strike with a firm blow

He vowed to smite his enemies with all his might.
2

verb
to defeat or conquer

The hero was destined to smite the evil forces.
3

verb
to affect strongly or suddenly, often with a feeling or emotion

She was smitten with love at first sight.
4

verb
to kill or destroy (biblical or archaic)

The plague was sent to smite the wicked.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to strike with a firm blow hit bash whack clobber strike

2 verb · to defeat or conquer afflict plague torment devastate ravage

3 verb · to affect strongly or... enamor captivate bewitch charm fascinate

4 verb · to kill or destroy... slay annihilate obliterate exterminatewipe out

Opposites

heal protect spare

Word family

Forms smiter

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *smitaną ('to smear, strike'), via Old English smitan ('to smear, defile') and Middle English smiten ('to strike, hit') into Modern English smite ('to strike with a firm blow').

Topics

Actions & Processes Register & Style

External links

# smite

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /smaɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /smaɪt/

## Meanings
1. to strike with a firm blow
2. to defeat or conquer
3. to affect strongly or suddenly, often with a feeling or emotion
4. to kill or destroy (biblical or archaic)

## Examples
- He vowed to smite his enemies with all his might.
- The hero was destined to smite the evil forces.
- She was smitten with love at first sight.
- The plague was sent to smite the wicked.

## Synonyms
- hit
- bash
- whack
- clobber
- strike
- afflict
- plague
- devastate
- captivate
- charm
- slay
- annihilate

## Antonyms
- heal
- protect
- spare

## Etymology
From Proto-Germanic *smitaną ('to smear, strike'), via Old English smitan ('to smear, defile') and Middle English smiten ('to strike, hit') into Modern English smite ('to strike with a firm blow').

## AI Etymology
Smite comes from Proto-Germanic *smitaną ('to smear, strike'), via Old English smitan ('to smear, defile') and Middle English smiten ('to strike, hit') into Modern English smite ('to strike with a firm blow'). In current use it is a verb meaning "to strike with a firm blow". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The history is mainly one of transmission into English, with the older form and sense carried through borrowing or adaptation. For dictionary purposes, the important point is the continuity between the older form, the route into English, and the present lexical sense.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Register & Style

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