Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

SMILE — SNEAKINGLY

SMILE, v.i.

1. To contract the features of the face in such a manner as to express pleasure, moderate joy, or love and kindness; the contrary to frown. The smiling infant in his hand shall take the crested basilisk and speckled snake. She smil’d to see the doughty hero slain.

2. To express slight contempt by a smiling liik, implying sarcasm or pity; to sneer. ‘Twas what I said to Craggs and Child, who prais’d my modesty, and smil’d.

3. To look gay and joyous; or to have an appearance to excite joy; as smiling spring; smiling plenty. The desert smil’d, and paradise was open’d in the wild.

4. To be propitious or favorable; to favor; to countenance. May heaven smile on out labors.

SMILE, v.t. To awe with a contemptuous smile.

SMILE, n,

1. A peculiar contraction of the features of the face, which naturally expresses pleasure, moderate joy, approbation or kindness; opposed to frown. Sweet intercourse of looks and smiles.

2. Gay or joyous appearance; as the smiles of spring.

3. Favor; countenance; propitiousness; as the smiles of providence.

A smile of contempt, a look resembling that of pleasure, but usually or often it can be distinguished by an accompanying archness, or some glance intended to be understood.

SMILER, n. One who smiles.

SMILING, ppr. Having a smile on the countenance; looking joyous or gay; looking propitious.

SMILINGLY, adv. With a look of pleasure.

SMILT, for smelt. [Not in use.]

SMIRCH, v.t. smerch. [from murk, murky.] To cloud; to dusk; to soil; as, to smirch the face. [Low.]

SMIRK, v.i. smerch. To look affectedly soft or kind. [See Smerk.]

SMIT, sometimes used for smitten. [See Smite.]

SMITE, v.t. 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 5:39.

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 9:31.

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.

To smite with the tongue, to reproach or upbraid. Jeremiah 18:18.

SMITE, v.i. To strike; to collide. The heart melteth and the kness smite together. Nahum 2:10.

SMITE, n. A blow.

SMITER, n. One who smites or strikes. I gave my back to the smiters. Isaiah 50:6.

SMITH, n.

1. Literally, the striker, the beater; hence, one who forges with the hammer; one who works in metals; as an iron-smith; gold-smith; silver-smith, etc. Nor yet the smith hath learn’d to form a sword.

2. He that makes or effects any thing.

Hence the name Smith, which, from the number of workmen employed in working metals in early ages, is supposed to be more common than any other.

SMITH, v.t. To beat into shape; to forge. [Not in use.]

SMITHCRAFT, n. [smith and craft.] The art of occupation of a smith. [Little used.]

SMITHERY, n.

1. The worshop of a smith.

2. Work done by a smith.

SMITHING, n. The act or art of working a mass of iron into the intended shape.

SMITHY, n. The shop of a smith. [I believe never used.]

SMITT, n. The finest of the clayey ore made up into balls, used for marking sheep.

SMITTEN, pp. of smite, smit’n.

1. Struck; killed.

2. Affected with some passion; excited by beauty or someting impressive.

SMITTLE, v.t. [from smite.] To infect.

SMOCK, n.

1. A shift; a chemise; a woman’s under garment.

2. In composition, it is used for female, or what relates to women; as smock-treason.

SMOCK-FACED, a. [smock and face.] Pace faced; maidenly; having a feminine countenance or complexion.

SMOCK-FROCK, n. [smock and frock.] A gaberdine.

SMOCKLESS, n. Wanting a smock.

SMOKE, n.

1. The exhalation, visble vapor or substance that escapes or is expelled in combustion from the substance burning. It is paricularly applied to the volatile matter expelled from vegetable matter, or wood coal, peat, etc. The matter expelled from metallic substances is more generally called fume, fumes.

2. Vapor; water exhalations.

SMOKE, v.i.

1. To emit smoke; to throw off volatile matter in the form of vapor or exhalation. Wood and other fuel smokes when burning; amd smokes most when there is the least flame.

2. To burn; to be kindled; to rage; in Scripture. The anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man. Deuteronomy 29:20.

3. To raise a dust or smoke by rapid motion. Proud of his steeds, be smokes along the field.

4. To smell or hunt out; to suspect. I began to smoke that they were a parcel of mummers. [Little used.]

5. To use tobacco in a pipe or cigar, by kindling the tobacco, drawing the smoke into the mouth and puffing it out.

6. TO suffer; to be punished. Some of you shall smoke for it in Rome.

SMOKE, v.t.

1. To apply smoke to; to hang in smoke; to scent, medicate or dry by smoke; as, to smoke infected clothing; to smoke beef or hams for preservation.

2. To smell out; to find out. He was first smoked by the old lord Lafeer. [Now little used.]

3. TO sneer at; to ridicule to the face.

SMOKED, pp. Cured, cleansed or dried in smoke.

SMOKEDRY, v.t. To dry by smoke.

SMOKE-JACK, n. An engine for turning a spit by means of a fly or wheel turned by the current of ascending air in a chimney.

SMOKELESS, a. Having no smoke; as smokeless towers.

SMOKER, a.

1. One that dries by smoke.

2. One that used tobacco by burning it in a pipe or in the form of a cigar.

SMOKING, ppr.

1. Emitting smoke, as fuel, etc.

2. Applying smoke for cleansing, drying, etc.

3. Using tobacco in a pipe or cigar.

SMOKING, n.

1. The act of emitting smoke.

2. The act of applying smoke to.

3. The act or practice of using tobacco by burning it in a pipe or cigar.

SMOKY, a.

1. Emitting smoke; fumid; as smoky fires.

2. Having the appearance or nature of smoke; as a smoky fog.

3. Filled with smoke, or with a vapor resembling it; thick. New England in autumn frequently has a smoky atmosphere.

4. Subject to be filled with smoke from the chimneys or fire-places; as a smoky house.

5. Tarnished with smoke; noisome with smoke; as smoky rafters; smoky cells.

SMOLDERING, the more correct orthography of smouldering, which see.

SMOOR, SMORE, v.t. To suffocate or smother. [Not in use.]

SMOOTH, a. [L. mitis.]

1. Having an even surface, or a surface so even that no roughness or points are perceptible to the touch; not rough; as smooth glass; smooth porcelain. The out lines must be smooth, imperceptible to the touch.

2. To free from obstruction; to make easy. Thou, Abelard, the last sad office pay, And smooth my passage to the realms of day.

3. To free from harshness; to make flowing. In their motions harmony divine so smooths her charming tones.

4. To palliate; to soften; as, to smooth a fault.

5. To calm; to mollify; to allay. Each perturbation smooth’d with outward calm.

6. To ease. The difficulty smoothed.

7. To flatter; to soften with blandishments. Because I cannot flatter and look fair, smile in men’s faces, smooth, deceive and coy.

SMOOTHED, pp. Made smooth.

SMOOTHEN, for smooth, is used by mechanics; though not, I believe, in the U. States.

SMOOTH-FACED, a. Having a mild, soft look; as smooth-faced wooers.

SMOOTHLY, adv,

1. Evenly; not roughly or harshly.

2. With even flow or motion; as, to flow or glide smoothly.

3. Without obstruction or difficulty; readily; easily.

4. With soft, bland, insinuating language.

SMOOTHNESS, n.

1. Evenness of suface; freedom from roughness or asperity; as the smoothness of a floor or wall; smoothness of the skin; smoothness of the water.

2. Softness or mildness to the palate; as the smoothness of wine.

3. Softness and sweetness of numbers; easy flow of words. Virgil, though smooth where smoothness is required, is far from affecting it.

4. Mildness or gentleness of speech; blandness of address.

SMOTE, pret. of smite.

SMOTHER, v.t. [allied perhaps to smoke.]

1. To suffocate of extinguish life by causing smoke or dust to enter the lungs; to stifle.

2. To suffocate or extinguish by closely covering, and be the exclustion of air; as, to smother a child in bed.

3. To suppress; to stifle; as, to smother the light of the understanding.

SMOTHER, n.

1. Smoke; thick dust.

2. A state of suppression. [Not in use.]

SMOUCH, v.t. To salute. [Not in use.]

SMOULDERING, SMOULDRY, a. [a word formed from mold, molder. and therefore it ought to be written smoldering.] Burning and smoking without vent.

SMUG, a. Nice; neat; affectedly nice in dress. [Not in use.]

SMUG, v.t. To make spruce; to dress with affected neatness. [Not in use.]

SMUGGLE, v.t. [We probably have the root mug, in hugger mugger.]

1. To import or export secretly goods which are forbidden by the goverment to be imported or exported; or secretly to import or export dutiable goods without paying the duties imposed by law; to run.

2. To convey clandestinely.

SMUGGLED, pp. Imported or exported clandestinely and contrary to law.

SMUGGLER, n.

1. One that imports or exports goods privately and contrary to law, either contraband goods or dutiable goods, without paying the customs.

2. A vessel employed in running goods.

SMUGGLING, ppr. Importing or exporting goods contrary to law.

SMUGGLING, n. The offense of importing or exporting prohibited goods. or other goods without paying the customs.

SMUGLY, adv. Neatly; sprucely. [Not in use.]

SMUGNESS, n. Neatness; spruceness without elegance. [Not in use.]

SMUT, n.

1. A spot made with soot or coal; or the foul matter itself.

2. A foul black substance which forms on corn. Sometimes the whole ear is blasted and converted into smut. This is often the fact with maiz. Smut lessens the value of wheat.

3. Obscene language.

SMUT, v.i. To gather smut; tobe converted into smut.

SMUTCH, v.t. [from smoke.] To blacken with smoke, soot or coal.

[Note. We have a common word in New England, pronouced smooch, which I take to be smutch. It signifies to foul or blacken with something produced by combustion or other like substance.]

SMUTTILY, adv.

1. Blackly; smokily; foully.

2. With obscene laguage.

SMUTTY, a.

1. Soiled from smut, coal, soot or the like.

2. Tainted with mildew; as smutty corn.

3. Obscene; not modest or pure; as smutty language.

SNACK, n. [Qu. from the root of snatch.]

1. A share. It is now chiefly or wholly used in the phrase, to go snacks with one, that is, to have a share.

2. A slight hasty repast.

SNACKET, SNECKET, n. The hasp of a casement.

SNACOT, n. A fish. [L. acus.]

SNAFFLE, n. A bridle consisting of a slender bit-mouth, without branches.

SNAFFLE, v.t. To bridle; to hold or manage with a bridle.

SNAG, n.

1. A short branch, or a sharp or rough branch; a shoot; a knot. The coat of arms now on a naked snag in triumph borne.

2. A tooth, in contempt; or a tooth projecting beyond the rest.

SNAGGED, SNAGGY, a. Full of snags; full of short rough branches or sharp points; abounding with knots; as a snaggy tree; a snaggy stick; a snaggy oak.

SNAIL, n.

1. A slimy slow creeping animal, of the genus Helix, and order of Mollusca. The eyes of this insect are in the horns, one at the end of each, which it can retract at pleasure.

2. A drone; a slow moving person.

SNAIL-CLAVER, SNAIL-TREFOIL, n. A plant of the genus Medicago.

SNAIL-FLOWER, n. A plant of the genus Phaseolus.

SNAIL-LIKE, a. Resembling a snail; moving very slowly.

SNAIL-LIKE, adv. In the manner of a snail; slowly.

SNAKE, n. A serpent of the oviparous kind, distinguished from a viper, says Johnson. But in America, the common and general name of serpents, and so the word is used by the poets.

SNAKE, v.t. In seamen’s language, to wind a small rope round a large one spirally, the small ropes lying in the spaces between the strands of the large one. This is called also worming.

SNAKEROOT, n. [snake and root.] A plant, a species of birth-wort, growing in North Am merica the Aristolochia serpentaria.

SNAKESHEAD IRIS, n. A plant with a lily shaped flower, or one leaf, shaped like an iris; the hermodactyl, or Iris tuberosa.

SNAKEWEED, n. [snake and weed.] A plant, bistort, of the genus Polygonum.

SNAKEWOOD, n. [snake and wood.] The smaller branches of a tree, growing in the isle of Timor and other parts of the east, having a bitter taste, and supposed to be a certain remedy for the bite of the hooded serpent. It is the wood of the Slrychnos colubrina.

SNAKING, ppr. WInding small ropes spirally round a large one.

SNAKY, a.

1. Pertaining to a snake or to snakes; resembling a snake; serpentine; winding.

2. Sly; cunning; insinuating; deceitful. So to the coast of Jordan he directs his easy steps, girded with snaky wiles.

3. Having serpents; as a snaky rod or want. That sanky headed gorgon shield.

SNAP, v.t.

1. To break at once; to break short; as substances that are brittle. Breaks the doors open, smaps the locks.

2. To strike with a sharp sound.

3. To bite or seize suddenly with the teeth.

4. To break upon suddenly with sharp angry words.

5. To crack; as, to snap a whip.

To snap off.

1. To break suddenly.

2. To bite off suddenly.

To snap one up, or to snap one up short, to treat with sharp words.

SNAP, v.i.

1. To break short; to part asunder suddenly; as, a mast or spar snaps; a needle snaps. If steel is too hard, that is, too brittle, with the least bending, it will snap.

2. To make an effort to bite; to aim to seize with the teeth; as, a dog snaps at a passenger; a fish snaps at the bait.

3. To utter sharp, harsh, angry words.

SNAP, n.

1. A sudden breaking or rupture of any substance.

2. A sudden eager bite; a sudden seizing or effort to seize with the teeth.

3. A crack of a whip.

4. A greedly fellow.

5. A catch; a theft.

SNAP-DRAGON, n.

1. A plant, calf’s snout, of the genus Antirrhinum, and another of the genus Ruellia, and one of the genus Barleria.

2. A play in which raisins are snatched from burning brandy and put into the mouth.

3. The thing eaten at snap-dragon.

SNAPPED, pp. Broken abruptly; seized or bitten suddenly; cracked, as a whip.

SNAPPER, n. One that snaps.

SNAPPISH, a.

1. Eager to bite; apt to snap; as a snappish cur.

2. Peevish; sharp in reply; apt to speak angrily or tartly.

SNAPPISHLY, adv. Peevishly; angrily; tartly.

SNAPPISHNESS, n. The quality of being snappish; peeevishness; tartness.

SNAPSACK, n. A knapsack. [Vulgar.]

SNAR, v.i. To snarl. [Not in use.]

SNARE, n.

1. An instrument for catching animals, particularly fowls, by the leg. It consists of a cord or string with slip-knots, in which the leg is entangled. A snare is not a net.

2. Any thing by which one is entangled and brought into troble. 1 Corinthians 7:35. A fool’s lip are the snare of his soul. Proverbs 18:7.

SNARE, v.t. To catch with a snare; to ensnare; to entangle; to bring into unexpected evil, perplexity or danger. The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Psalm 9:16.

SNARED, pp. Entangled; unexpectedly involved in difficulty.

SNARER, n. One who lays snares or entangles.

SNARING, ppr. Entangling; ensnaring.

SNARL, v.i. [This word seems to be allied to gnarl, and to proceed from some root signifyingto twist, bind, or fasten, or to involve, entangle, and thus to be allied to snare.]

1. To growl, as an angry or surly dog; to gnarl; to utter grumbling sounds; but it expresses more violence than grumble. That I should snarl and bit and play the dog.

2. To speak roughly; to talk in rude murmuring terms. It is malicious and unmanly to snarl at the little lapses of a pen, from with Virgil himself stands not exempted.

SNARL, v.t.

1. To entangle; to complicate; to involve in knots; as, to snarl the hair; to snarl a skain of thread. [This word is in universal popular use in New England.]

2. To embarrass.

SNARL, n. Entanglement; a knot or complication of hair, thread, etc., which it is difficult to disentangle.

SNARLER, n. One who snarls; a surly growling animal; a grumbling quarrelsime fellow.

SNARLING, ppr.

1. Growling; grumblling angrily.

2. Entangling.

SNARY, a. [from snare.] Entangling; insidious. Spiders in the vault their snary webs have spread.

SNAST, n. The snuff of a candle. [Not in use.]

SNATCH, v.t. pret. and pp. snatched or snacht.

1. To seize hastily or abruptly. When half our knowledge we must snatch, not take.

2. To seize without permission or ceremony; as, to snatch a kiss.

3. To seize and transport away; as, snatch me to heaven.

SNATCH, v.i. To catch at; to attempt to seize suddenly. Nay, the ladies too will be snatching. He shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry. Isaiah 9:20.

SNATCH, n.

1. A hasty catch or seizing.

2. A catching at or attempt to seize suddenly.

3. A short fit of vigorous action; as a snatch as weeding after a shower.

4. A broken or interrupted action; a short fit or turn. They move by fits and snatches. We have often little snatches of sunshine.

5. A shuffling answer. [Little used.]

SNATCH-BLOCK, n. A particular kind of block used in ships, having an opening in one side to receive the bight of a rope.

SNATCHED, pp. Seized suddenly and violently.

SNATCHER, n. One that snatches or takes abruptly.

SNATCHING, ppr. Seized hastily or abruptly; catching at.

SNATCHINGLY, adv. By snatching; hastily; abruptly.

SNATH, n. The handle of a sythe.

SNATHE, v.t. To lop; to prune. [Not in use.]

SNATTOCK, n. [supra.] A chip; a slice. [Not in use.]

SNEAK, v.i. [See Snake.]

1. To creep or steal away privately; to withdraw meanly, as a person afraid or ashamed to be seen; as, to sneak away from company; to sneak into a corner or behind a screen. You skulk’d behind the fence, and sneak’d away.

2. To speak roughly; to talk in rude murmuring terms. It is malicious and unmanly to snarly at the little lapses of a pen, from which Virgil himself stands not exempted.