smite
UK: smaɪt | US: smaɪt
vt. to strike forcefully or violently
vt. to defeat or punish severely (often in a biblical or archaic context)
vt. to affect deeply with emotion (e.g., "smitten with love")
The word "smite" traces back to Old English smītan, which originally meant "to smear" or "to throw," reflecting physical force. Over time, its meaning narrowed to "strike violently," often with divine or moral connotations (e.g., "God smote the wicked"). The modern sense of being "smitten" (emotionally affected) evolved metaphorically from the idea of being struck by an overpowering force.
The hero raised his sword to smite the dragon.
In the Bible, God smites the enemies of Israel.
She was smitten by his charm at first sight.
The plague smote the village without mercy.
The boxer smote his opponent with a crushing blow.