smite

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smite / smīt/ • v. (past smote / smōt/ ; past part. smit·ten / ˈsmitn/ ) [tr.] poetic/lit. strike with a firm blow: he smites the water with his sword. ∎ archaic defeat or conquer (a people or land): he may smite our enemies. ∎  (usu. be smitten) fig. (esp. of disease) attack or affect severely: various people had been smitten with untimely summer flu. ∎  (be smitten) be strongly attracted to someone or something: she was so smitten with the boy.• n. archaic a heavy blow or stroke with a weapon or the hand.DERIVATIVES: smit·er n.