smote

The sun's rays smote upon him as he walked.

Definition

1. Verb (past tense of ):
   • To strike with a firm blow: "smote" means to hit or strike something or someone with force, often in a literal or figurative sense.
   • To defeat or punish: It can mean to conquer or inflict punishment, especially in a decisive or severe manner.
   • To affect strongly: In a figurative sense, "smote" describes a sudden, powerful emotional or mental impact, such as being struck by an idea, fear, or love.

Usage Examples

• Literal striking:
  • The knight smote his enemy with a mighty sword. (He struck the enemy forcefully with a sword.)
• Defeat or punishment:
  • The plague smote the city, leaving devastation in its wake. (The plague punished the city with severe suffering.)
• Emotional or mental impact:
  • An idea smote him as he walked through the forest. (A sudden thought struck his mind.)
  • She was smote with grief at the news. (She was overcome by a powerful feeling of sorrow.)

Advanced Usage

• "to smote someone hip and thigh": A biblical idiom meaning to defeat someone completely and thoroughly.

  • The general smote the enemy hip and thigh, leaving no survivors. (He achieved total victory.)

• "to be smote with": To be deeply affected or obsessed by something.

  • He was smote with a desire for adventure. (He was intensely captivated by the idea of adventure.)

Variants and Related Words

• Smite (verb, present tense): to strike or hit.
  • He will smite the rock with his staff. (He will strike the rock.)
• Smitten (past participle): struck or affected, often used for romantic attraction.
  • She was smitten by his charm. (She was deeply attracted to him.)
• Smiter (noun): one who smites.
  • The smiter of dragons was a legendary hero. (The one who struck down dragons.)

Synonyms

• Strike: to hit with force.
• Afflict: to cause pain or suffering.
• Overwhelm: to overcome emotionally.

Related Idioms

• Smote by conscience: to feel guilty or remorseful.
  • His conscience smote him after the lie. (He felt strong guilt.)
• Smote with awe: to be struck with amazement or reverence.
  • The crowd was smote with awe at the sight. (They were deeply impressed and humbled.)