Middle English Dictionary Entry
smẹ̄th(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | smẹ̄th(e adj. Also smith(e & (in place names) smet-, smed-; pl. (early dat.) smeþum. |
| Etymology | OE smēðe |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. smoth(e adj.
1.
(a) Having a surface without bumps or rough spots; smooth, polished, slippery; also fig.; (b) of the earth, a road: level, flat, plain; (c) of a person: smooth-skinned, free from coarse hair or blemishes; of flesh, skin: smooth; also, free of irritation [quot. ?a1425]; (d) of a pasty substance: smooth in consistency, without lumps; of a liquid: ?rarefied; of phlegm: ?not thick; ?light.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)219 : Man find ilome on gerde þat he be riht and smal and long and smeþe.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)86/608 : Isteanet euch strete wið deorewurðe stanes..isliket ant ismaket as eni gles smeðest.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)95/6 : Hwa se eauer mis seið þe oðer misdeð þe..is þi vile..& fileð al þi rust awei & ti ruhe of sunne..he makeð smeðe & brihteð þi sawle.
- a1325 SLeg.Patr.(Corp-C 145)472 : Þis brugge..was so smeþe þat me ne ssolde þeron gon Bote me slide & folle adoun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)209a/b : Some [trees] haueþ smeþe [L leuia] leues..and some haueþ cloue and ragged leues.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)219a/b : Þer is smal reed þat..is smeþe [L plana] and clere wiþoute and nouȝt ful of knottes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23457 : In þis lijf has man gret liking..To handel þat es smeth and soft.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)108/12 : Þe brayn panne is maad of ij smeþe [L planis], liȝt tablis.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)9522-3 : Euery a ston of Marbil was As smethe as any glas; Euery a ston was smethe schauen.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3670 : Be-twene þe pelers was piȝt..Gilden wynes with grapis of gracious stanes..Sum was smeth smaragdyns.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)924 : Þis stone..Be it smethe owþer smert, smaragden hit hat.
b
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)90/21 : On þan seofeðen dæige wurðeð geemnode denen & dunen, swa þæt eall eorðe byð smeðe & emne.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)117/22 : Se ængel me lædde þærrihte to eastdæle..into anre byrig, þær binnen wæs swyðe smeðe feld & brad.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)105/3 : Þeos wurt..byð cenned betweoh stanum & on smeþum stowun.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)9214 : Þær shulenn beon..effne & smeþe weȝȝess.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8781 : Þe abbeye of redinges..Hii rerde verst of smeþe ground.
- a1350 *Body & S.(4) (Hrl 2253)67 : Þe furþe day shal blowe a wynd..þe hulles makeþ euene, smethe wyþ þe dales.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)25/22 : Folow þou þe steppis of þis Lord; take hede how mani þousand of martris han made a smeþ, pleyne weye to þee.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)6349 : Þe erthe sal be þan..smethe and clere als cristale.
- ?c1425 *Chaucer Astr.(Plim 254:Reidy)2.29.23 : Þe smeþe [Robinson: Lat thin Astrelabie kouche adoun evene upon a smothe ground].
- a1450 Castle Love(1) (BodAdd B.107)1581 : Alle þe valeis..And the hylles..Shull be made smethe and playn.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)54a/b : Þe fleissche of þe longe is neissche and smethe [L leuis].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3490 : Þe first was born was rogh as hare; þe toþer child was smeth and bare.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3661 : Þou wat mi hid es smith and bar, And esau es rugh wit har.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.27.11 : Esau..is an heeri man, and Y am smethe [WB(1): soft; L lenis].
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)110a/a : Þe white of a neye..is þe nobelest medicyne þat is in coliries of yȝen, for it coldeþ, it wesscheþ, it makeþ smeþe, [etc.].
- a1450(a1400) Titus & V.(Add 36523)2543 : He stoode up all hole..And as a slough gan from hym fall, He bicam clene, smethe, and mylde As the body of a childe.
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)80a/a : In somme yueles fedinge flewme is rauyschid to þe brayne by worchinge of hete of feueres þat makeþ it smethe.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.10 : Grynd bred and peper with ale full smethe.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.47 : Fyrst take porke, wele þou hit sethe With otene grotes þat ben so smethe.
2.
(a) Calm, placid; gentle, peaceful; of a flame: steady; (b) of words, speech: pleasing, unctuous, deceitful; (c) easy.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)5/15 : Monie cunne riwlen beoð..þe an riwleð þe heorte & makeð efne & smeðe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21961 : His first comme it was ful smeth; þe toþer sal be rugh and reth.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24837 : Þe weder, als in somer smeth [Frf: soft], Son bigan to rug and reth.
- a1400 Ancr.(Pep 2498)2/32 : Forto riȝthten hir [heart] & maken hir smeþe, þat longeþ to vche ordre & to vche religioun.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11796 : Ten tymes..hit fest was on fyre & flappit out onone, Vnto smorther & smoke, and no smethe low.
b
- a1400 NVPsalter (Hrl 1770)54.24 : Smeþe als oli his sayhes bene.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)133/9 : Sinful men..wiþ swete semynge, smeþe wordes steren a man to synne.
c
- a1200(?OE) Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)189 : Fleshliche lustes..fliteð to-ȝenes þe soule and fondeð hire a fele wise mid swikele wrenchen..and beoð þe smeðere him to biswikende, for þan þe þei nehȝie wunien.
3.
(a) In surnames; (b) in place names [see Smith PN Elem.2.130].
Associated quotations
a
- (1230) Nickname in LuSE 55164 : Rob. Smetheberd.
- (1298) Pat.R.Edw.I332 : Ralph Smether.
- (1347) Inquis.PM Edw.III in BRS 48180 : Richard Smethemon.
b
- (1160-80) EPNSoc.33 (West Riding Yks.)17 : Smedhala.
- (1170-83) EPNSoc.33 (West Riding Yks.)17 : Smethala.
- (1229) EPNSoc.18 (Mid.)154 : Estsmethefeld juxta Turrim.
- (1272) EPNSoc.18 (Mid.)154 : Est Smythefeld.
- (1322) in Ekwall PNLan.44 : Smythell.
- (1344) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)359 : Le Smethatte.
- (1430) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)247 : Smethet.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)36/15 : I wold þu wer in Smythfeld, & I wold beryn a fagot to bren þe wyth.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1475 Cmb.Dd.5.76 Artist.Recipes (Cmb Dd.5.76) 219/19 : Whan þai are thoreu drie take a softe bores toske, and loke þat it be softe and smethe, and take þi golde..and lay it on þi lettres.
- a1500 Trin-C.R.14.45 Recipes (Trin-C R.14.45) 136/20 : Take a taweyres knyef and schave hit clene on þe flesshe syde until hit become also softe and also smethe als any glove lethir.
Note: Need dates, sense 1.(a).