SMITE, pret. smote pp. smitten, smil. This verb is the L. mitto.
1. To strike to throw, drive or force against, as the fist or hand, a stone or a weapon to reach with a blow or a weapon as, to smite one with the fist to smite with a rod or with a stone. Whoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5 .
2. To kill to destroy the life of by beating or by weapons of any kind as, to smite one with the sword, or with an arrow or other engine. David smote Goliath with a sling and a stone. The Philistines were often smitten with great slaughter. This word, like slay, usually or always signification, that of beating, striking, the primitive mode of killing. We never apply it to the destruction of life by poison, by accident or by legal execution.
3. To blast to destroy life as by a stroke or by something sent. The flax and the barley were smitten. Exodus 9 .
4. To afflict to chasten to punish. Let us not mistake God's goodness, nor imagine, because he smites us, that we are forsaken by him.
5. To strike or affect with passion. See what the charms that smite the simple heart. Smit with the love of sister arts we came.