verb
smite
smyt
verb
1
(literary) To strike hard, especially with a weapon or divine power.
"In the story, a bolt of lightning was said to smite the tower."
"He felt smitten with sudden guilt."
How to Use Smite
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo strike someone or something violently, often used in religious or dramatic writing.
When to use it
Mostly literary, biblical, or humorous now — rare in everyday speech.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
smote past tense, smited past tense, smit past tense, smitten past tense, smites plural, smites singular
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In the story, a bolt of lightning was said to _____ the tower.
Etymology
From Old English smītan, "to smear or strike," related to German schmeißen, "to fling or throw."