Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#117127 12/05/03 05:48 PM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 322
B
boronia Offline OP
enthusiast
OP Offline
enthusiast
B
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 322
I was chatting with a friend the other night, and we stumbled (yes, perhaps a bit late in life) on the interesting duo of smite and smitten. I think of being smitten as a sweet, romantic feeling; but if god or someone were to smite me, I don't think I'd be too pleased. Just musing aprint.


#117128 12/05/03 06:19 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear boronia: I share your take on this. What is your take on "stunning" as a compliment on attractive costume?
To me, stunning sounds like violent impact of blunt instrument.


#117129 12/05/03 07:34 PM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Z
Zed Offline
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Z
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
At our Christmas party last night one of the women wore a crochetted dress, very lovely and very attractive. A couple of the men looked like they had just been "smited" with a blunt instrument.


#117130 12/05/03 08:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
So crocheted costume caused optoecdysiasm viagravation and catatonia.


#117131 12/05/03 11:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
viagravation

Bravo, Dr Bill!!


#117132 12/06/03 04:01 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
This is interesting, boronia. Smitten doesn't necessarily always refer to good things, but I can't think of any uses of smite that normally would be considered a positive thing. Well, smite a blow for justice, maybe.
From Merriam-Webster:
Main Entry: smite
Pronunciation: 'smIt
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): smote /'smOt/; smit·ten /'smi-t&n/; or smote; smit·ing /'smI-ti[ng]/
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English smItan to smear, defile; akin to Old High German bismIzan to defile
Date: 12th century
transitive senses
1 : to strike sharply or heavily especially with the hand or an implement held in the hand
2 a : to kill or severely injure by smiting b : to attack or afflict suddenly and injuriously <smitten by disease>
3 : to cause to strike
4 : to affect as if by striking <children smitten with the fear of hell -- V. L. Parrington>
5 : CAPTIVATE, TAKE <smitten with her beauty>
intransitive senses : to deliver or deal a blow with or as if with the hand or something held



#117133 12/06/03 07:56 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 81
J
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
J
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 81
The OED dates the love-striking sense (its sense 8) to 1665. I suppose it comes from a jocular use of sense 6: "To infect, imbue, impress, strike suddenly or strongly with some feeling or sentiment. Chiefly in pa. pple. ME.", the quotation for which is still negative: "Wit strang dred he smiton was."


#117134 12/06/03 07:59 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 81
J
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
J
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 81
Oh, I forget to mention something I noticed in passing:

Smooch (smûtS), v. Latterly U.S. 1631. [Cf. SMUTCH v.] trans. To sully, dirty.


#117135 12/06/03 12:17 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Ahhhhhhhh, to be smitten and smooching is stunning and y'all know exactly what I'm talking about.


#117136 12/06/03 01:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear Jenet: And a smith uses gentle taps as well as mighty blows.



Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,271
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
1 members (A C Bowden), 285 guests, and 4 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,502
LukeJavan8 9,915
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5