Word: stroke Part of Speech: noun Etymology: The noun is derived from Middle English strok, stroke (“blow from a weapon, cut”), from Old English strāc, from Proto-West Germanic *straik, from Proto-Germanic *straikaz (“stroke”), from Proto-Indo-European *streyg- (“to rub, stroke; to shear; to strike”). Sense 3.6.2.2 (“the oblique, slash, or virgule (‘/’)”) is a contraction of oblique stroke, a variant of oblique which was originally used in telegraphy. The verb is derived from the noun. Cognates * German Streich (“stroke”) * Middle Low German strēk (“stroke, trick, prank”) * Scots strak, strake, straik (“blow, stroke”) Pronunciation: /stɹəʊk/, /stɹoʊk/, /stɹʌok/, /stɾʌok/ 1. An act of hitting; a blow, a hit. Example: a stroke on the chin Example: Hee paſſed the vvhole length of Italie vvithout reſiſtance, […] He likevviſe entred and vvonne (in effect) the vvhole Kingdome of Naples it ſelfe, vvithout ſtriking ſtroke. 2. An act of hitting; a blow, a hit. Example: Singapore plans to cane scammers and scam mules, with mandatory caning of at least six strokes for scammers and discretionary caning for mules. Example: Their mightie ſtrokes their haberieons diſmayld, / And naked made each others manly ſpalles; […] 3. An act of hitting; a blow, a hit. Example: [W]hen a man goeth into the wood with his neighbor, to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a ſtroke with the axe to cut downe the tree, and the head ſlippeth from the helue, and lighteth vpon his neighbour that he die, he ſhall flee vnto one of thoſe cities, and liue: […] Example: VVith lifted Arms they order ev'ry Blovv, / And chime their ſounding Hammers in a Rovv; / VVith ſtrokes of Anvils Ætna groans belovv. 4. An act of hitting; a blow, a hit. Example: on the stroke of midnight Example: Expect the second [ghost] on the next night at the same hour. The third upon the next night when the last stroke of twelve has ceased to vibrate. Look to see me no more; and look that, for your own sake, you remember what has passed between us! 5. An act of hitting; a blow, a hit. 6. An act of hitting; a blow, a hit. 7. An act of hitting; a blow, a hit. 8. An act of hitting; a blow, a hit. 9. A movement similar to that of hitting. Example: the stroke of a bird’s wing in flying 10. A movement similar to that of hitting. 11. A movement similar to that of hitting. Labels: broadly 12. A movement similar to that of hitting. Example: butterfly stroke Example: Old Applegate, in the stern, just set and looked at me, and Lord James, amidship, waved both arms and kept hollering for help. I took a couple of everlasting big strokes and managed to grab hold of the skiff's rail, close to the stern. 13. A movement similar to that of hitting. Example: [I]n true marriage lies / Nor equal, nor unequal: each fulfils / Defect in each, and always thought in thought, / Purpose in purpose, will in will, they grow, / The single pure and perfect animal, / The two-cell'd heart beating, with one full stroke / Life. 14. A movement similar to that of hitting. Example: For the pistons of a four-stroke engine, the exhaust stroke follows the power stroke. 15. A movement similar to that of hitting. Example: The bore times the stroke times the number of cylinders equals displacement. 16. A movement similar to that of hitting. 17. An act causing hurt or death, especially when seen as divine punishment. Labels: figuratively Example: the stroke of death Example: The stroke of God, Aduersyte I hyght; / I pluke downe kynge, prynce, lorde, and knyght, / I rushe at them rughly, and make them ly full lowe, / And in theyr moste truste i make them ouerthrowe. 18. A damaging occurrence, especially if sudden; a blow, a calamity. Labels: figuratively Example: The Abp. [Archbishop] of York [John Dolben] now died of yᵉ small pox, aged 62, a corpulent man. […] I looke on this as a greate stroke to yᵉ poore Church of England, now in this defecting period. Example: T'encreaſe this load, ſome ſycophant-report / Deſtroy'd his int'reſt and good grace at court. / At this one ſtroke the man look'd dead in lavv: / His flatt'rers ſcamper, and his friends vvithdravv. 19. An amount of work; specifically, a large amount of business or work. Labels: figuratively Example: a stroke of business Example: ["]But I'm gwine, Mas'r George,—gwine to have four dollars a week; and Missis is gwine to lay it all up, to buy back my old man agin!" / "Whew!" said George, "here's a stroke of business, to be sure! How are you going [to Louisville]?" 20. A powerful or sudden effort by which something is done or produced; also, something accomplished by such an effort; an achievement, a feat. Labels: figuratively Example: a stroke of genius 21. A single movement of a paintbrush, chisel, pen, pencil, or similar implement; a line or mark made by such an implement. Labels: figuratively Example: Among other branches of ſcience, if one can call it ſo, Mr. [John] Evelyn ſtudied Phyſiognomy, and found diſſimulation, boldneſs, cruelty and ambition in every touch and ſtroke of [Isaac] Fuller's picture of Oliver Cromvvell's face, vvhich he ſays, vvas the moſt reſembling portrait of the Protector. 22. A single movement of a paintbrush, chisel, pen, pencil, or similar implement; a line or mark made by such an implement. Labels: figuratively 23. A single movement of a paintbrush, chisel, pen, pencil, or similar implement; a line or mark made by such an implement. Labels: figuratively 24. A single movement of a paintbrush, chisel, pen, pencil, or similar implement; a line or mark made by such an implement. Labels: Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, figuratively Example: Subject: Fire. Dear Sir-stroke-Madam: I am writing to inform you of a fire which has broken out at the premises of … No. That's too formal. 25. A distinctive expression in a written composition; a touch. Labels: figuratively Example: to give some finishing strokes to an essay 26. Influence; power. Labels: archaic, figuratively Example: [W]here ſoeuer poſſeſſyons be pryuate, where moneye beareth all the ſtroke, it is hard and almoſte impoſſyble that there the weale publyque maye iuſtelye be gouerned and proſperouſlye floryſhe: […] Example: Theſame Alexander, be auiſed and coũſailed, that he ſhould winne and make frendes vnto him, all ſuche perſones both honeſt and vnhoneſt, good and badde, as beare any rule, ſtroke or autoritte, in the commen weale, and that the good men he ſhould vſe, and the euil perſones he ſhould abuſe, that is to ſaie, applie to ſome good vſe, that of theimſelfes they are not apte nor inclined vnto. 27. Influence; power. Labels: archaic, figuratively 28. A masterful or effective action. Labels: figuratively Example: To enable any other piece to effect the decisive stroke, a greater number of facilities, arising either from the coöperation of partisans, or the obstruction of the adverse king by his own pieces, must conspire in proportion to the assailant's class. Example: Black gives the opponent and opportunity for a beautiful combination stroke. But his game was anyhow very bad already, for in answer to QR—R sq., which was about his only other alternative, White would have replied Kt—R5 with an irresistible attack. 29. A sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain, causing minor to major brain damage and possible death; it may be either hemorrhagic or thrombotic. Example: suffer a stroke 30. An individual discharge of lightning, particularly if causing damage. Example: A flash of lightning may be made up of several strokes. If they are separated by enough time for the eye to distinguish them, the lightning will appear to flicker. 31. An individual social interaction whereby one gives another attention or recognition. Example: Being gay and in prison is a very lonely experience. I would like to get some gay contacts on the outside that could give me some positive strokes. 32. The effect or result of a striking; affliction or injury; a bruise or wound; soreness. Labels: obsolete Example: Moreover the light of the Moone ſhalbe as the light of the Sunne, and the light of the Sunne ſhall be ſeuenfold, as the light of ſeuen dayes, in the day that the Lord bindeth vp the breach of his people, and healeth the ſtroke of their wound. 33. Chiefly in to have a good stroke: appetite. Labels: obsolete Example: [N]either can any man be entertain'd as a Soldier, that has not a greater ſtroke than ordinary at eating: for by this they judge of his ſtrength and conſtitution. Example: Lady Answ[erall]. God bleſs you, Colonel; you have a good Stroke vvith you. / Col[onel Atwit]. O Madam; formerly I could eat all, but novv I leave nothing; I eat but one Meal a Day. 34. A sudden attack of any illness, especially if causing loss of consciousness or movement, or when fatal. Labels: obsolete Example: a stroke of apoplexy 35. A bow or pluck of a string or strings of a stringed instrument; also, the manner in which a musical instrument is played; hence, a melody, a tune. Labels: obsolete Example: Or can he desire a nobler or a fuller Argument either for the softest Aires or the loudest Echoes, for the smoothest or briskest strokes of his Pindaric Lyre?