smitten
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: enpr: smĭten
ipa: /ˈsmɪ.tn̩/
rhymes: -ɪtən
Forms: form: more smitten
form: most smitten
Etymology: From Middle English smiten, from Old English smiten, ġesmiten, from Proto-Germanic *smitanaz, past participle of Proto-Germanic *smītaną (“to hurl; fling”), equivalent to smite + -en (past participle ending).
Senses: examples: text: [A] smited man is a man struck; a smitten man is a man affected by the act of smiting: […]
ref: 1850, Matthew Stewart, Remarks on the Subject of Language, with Some Observations in the Form of Notes, Illustrative of the Information which Language may Afford of the History and Opinions of Mankind, London: Printed by Richard and John Edward-Taylor, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, for, and at the expense of the author, →OCLC, page 30:
text: There was a tense silence over the throng as the old man stood and looked at the figure at his feet. There were shadows on the earl's face, and his hands shook, for the smitten man was his son.
ref: 1903, Warwick Deeping, “Book I. The Way to Winchester”, in Uther and Igraine, New York, N.Y.: The Outlook Company, published 1904, →OCLC, page 22:
text: The Bible shows the way of God with man and the way of man with God. It contains both the complaint of God against the wicked and the shriek of the smitten man, demanding justice of God.
ref: 1997, Abraham Joshua Heschel, edited by Fritz A. Rothschild, Between God and Man: An Interpretation of Judaism: From the Writings of Abraham Joshua Heschel, New York, N.Y.: Free Press Paperbacks, Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 250:
text: [W]hen the alternate designation is introduced, turning the character from “man” or “brother” to “his smiter,” this balance is disturbed, and suddenly we have a smiter and a smitten person, not two people in a fight with each other.
ref: 2010, Assnat Bartor, “Point of View”, in Reading Law as Narrative: A Study in the Casuistic Laws of the Pentateuch (Ancient Israel and its Literature; 5), Atlanta, Ga.: Society of Biblical Literature, →ISBN, page 175:
text: In the argument, which followed between Job and his comforters, the poor, smitten man regained some of his faith and uttered many noble words concerning the wisdom of God. Finally, God revealed to Job the whole truth of the matter.
ref: 2010, Constance B. Nealey, The Teaching/Learning Process: Undergirded by Biblical Teachings: Teaching the Bible Way, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN, page 50:
glosses: Affected by an act of smiting.
examples: text: There is not, I am persuaded, an individual of the many Nature-smitten enthusiasts who yearly visit the wild glens of Kincardineshire, that would not walk barefoot a hundred miles to kneel at the tomb of him who founded the beautifully-situated village of Balrangle.
ref: 1869, Joseph Grant, “The Grocer's Daughter”, in Tales of the Glens with Ballads and Songs, new edition, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire: Published by John Taylor, →OCLC, page 9:
text: One of the side benefits of such has been making the acquaintances of similarly smitten enthusiasts, and inevitably they are keen to share both plants and experiences.
ref: 1980, Arboretum Bulletin, Seattle, Wash.: [University of Washington], →OCLC, page 26:
text: Welcome to the world of the Hobie Cat addict, that 100,000-strong armada of hopelessly smitten enthusiasts who insist that nothing in life quite measures up to the unrestrained joy of breezing along on a twin-hulled Hobie.
ref: 1981, Time, volume 118, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, page 147:
glosses: Affected by an act of smiting.
Made irrationally enthusiastic.
examples: text: At the end of the long procession came a smitten woman. […] I think of the women who have fastened the tendrils of their heart's affection round unworthy men, and have married them, hoping, trusting and believing that their love and influence would be powerful enough to win the men to sobriety and virtue. Alas! how mistaken they have been!
ref: 1912, Thomas Holmes, “Marriage in the Underworld”, in London's Underworld (The Making of the Modern Law), London: J. M. Dent & Sons; New York, N.Y.: E. P. Dutton, OCLC 60735063; republished as London; New York, N.Y.: Anthem Press, 2006, ISBN 978-1-84331-219-2, page 118
text: In “The Soldier Maid,” a woman falls in love with the cross-dressed woman, thinking she is a man. The smitten woman, then, perceives herself in heterosexual mode – though the person to whom she is attracted is actually female.
ref: 1997, Pauline Greenhill, “‘The Handsome Cabin Boy’: Cross-Dressing Ballads, Sexualities, and Gendered Meanings”, in Pauline Greenhill, Diane Tye, editors, Undisciplined Women: Tradition and Culture in Canada, Montreal, Que.; Kingston, Ont.: McGill-Queen's University Press, →ISBN, page 119:
text: “I’m a man, Violet,” he reminded her as they walked out to his car after making their goodbyes to their host. “I know a smitten man when I see one. Kemp’s got it bad.”
ref: 2005, Diana Palmer, Boss Man, New York, N.Y.: Harlequin, →ISBN:
text: Isabella had complained to her father on several occasions over his actions. Father had responded by stating that it was natural for a healthy man to pay attention to a beautiful woman. The curt thank you and show of disinterest was no distraction to the smitten man.
ref: 2012, Joseph Hale, Memoirs of the Browning Man, Houston, Tex.: Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Co., →ISBN, page 49:
text: “Aw, every traveler's a thief, but stealing from your own family?” “Yeah, that boy's all kinds of trouble. I can see why Mari's so smitten. Come on, Nik. Even you can't be that dense.”
ref: 2024 December 17, Tim Miller, “Exodus: Odyssey” (3:06 from the start), in Secret Level, season 1, episode 11, spoken by Thadie Voss (Courtenay Taylor):
glosses: Affected by an act of smiting.
In love.
Derived terms: smitten kitten
Related terms: crush
infatuation
platonic love