Middle English Dictionary Entry
smọ̄th(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | smọ̄th(e adj. Also smote, smode, smouth, smuithe. |
| Etymology | LOE smōþ; cp. OE unsmōþ. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. smeth(e adj.
1.
(a) Free of protuberance or roughness, smooth, even; also fig.; (b) of land: level, flat; (c) of a part of the body: smooth-skinned; free from coarse hair or blemishes; ?free from wounds [quot. c1484, 1st]; also, of hair, eyebrows, a dog's ears: lying smooth, not ruffled; of a mole's skin: ?smooth; ?soft; (d) of a liquid: not lumpy, of even consistency.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)18/5 : Tak ther fore a plate of metal, or elles a bord þt be smothe shaue by leuel, & euene polised.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)250a/a : Þe more pleyne þe tree is..and þe more harde and smothe [L leniori], the bettre þe tables ben.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)6 : Perle..So smal, so smoþe her sydez were..I sette her sengeley in synglure.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)103/17 : 'My ȝok is smoþe,' not hurtinge neckes of meke men wiþ grucchinge and chidinge, but wiþ loue drawinge.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.506 : Swiche..had konyng..Alabastre, owþer white or redde..to pulsche it pleyn To make it smoþe of veynes & of greyn.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.949 : Next the foule netle, rough and thikke, The rose waxeth swoote and smothe and softe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)133a/a : Þe instrument with which is put away þe catharact..oweþ to be mene, subtile, &..þe hefte oweþ to be liȝt or smoþe & apte to hold.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)157/14 : Then schap hem yn maner of a dove egge..& make hem smothe a-pon a gynston.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)63a/b : Loke þat þilke þreed be riȝt smoþe & wel y-twyned wiþouten knottis & wel wexid.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)76a/a : Þou schalt legge þe membre þat is schoten vpon an euene smoþe place so þat it be wel y-couchid in cloþis and esily y-dressid.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)149b/a : Alle þe grettiste parties of þe semes schal be alle on þe to side, þat þe smoþere side be leid twoward þe pacientis membre.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.309 : Þe basenet wel arayyd is clene furbuschyd from rust & maad slyk and smoþe þat schot and strokys mon sone glydyn of.
- a1500 Bod.EMisc.Lapid.(BodEMisc e.558)34/329 : There is a nother maner [of orides] that ben rowe on the oon syde and smothe on that other syde.
b
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)31/353 : He com in-to a fair cuntray..Smoþe & plain & al grene.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3313 : Þe soil smoþe, bare, and pleyn, Þei maked han redy to bere greyn.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2449 : He cauȝt a plesaunt slade Ful smoþe & pleyn & lusty for to sene.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)525 : The sitter knowith weel the same ambuler be freel and prone and redi into stumbling, thouȝ the wey be smothe and euen.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.29.23 : Lat thin Astrelabie kouche adoun evene upon a smothe [vr. smode] ground.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)116a : Smvythe: levis, vbi playn.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)2547 : Smothe was the pleyn.
c
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.676 : This pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex, But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.690 : No berd hadde he ne neuere sholde haue, As smothe it was as it were late yshaue.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)300a/a : The wonte..haþ a blak skynne, hery, neisshe, and smoþe [L mollem].
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1248 : Hire sydes longe, flesshly, smothe, and white He gan to stroke.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.996 : Ek this is an opynyoun of some That han hire top ful heighe and smothe yshore.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)542 : Hir flesh tendre as is a chike, With bent browis smothe and slyke.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)394 : A whelp..Helde doun hys hed and joyned hys eres, And leyde al smothe doun hys heres.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)942 : Hyt [neck] was whit, smothe, streght, and pure flat.
- c1450 Myght wisdom (Add 31042)33 : Blissed be þi fayre forehede, smothe and playne.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11078 : In the weye a-noon I fond A damysele off queynte array..endownyd soffte & ffayr, Smothe as gossomer in the hayr.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)170/9 : Þis is þe syxte medycine, of home þe propyrte is to make smothe þe breste and to conforte in refreschyng.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)201/21 : Smale feet and smote [L leues] betokyn hardnes of wytt.
d
- c1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(2) (Hrl 4016)77 : Take vinegre and wyne & stepe þe brede therein, and drawe hit thorgh a streynour..til hit be smoth.
2.
Of the wind, weather, sea, etc.: calm, not turbulent.
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3916 : Zephirus, ful agreable and smoþe, þe tendre braunchis enspireþ.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.10 : Neptunus..Was of assent..To make þe se fro tempest calm & smoþe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1867 : Vp-on feith of þe smoþe skye Ageyn to ship fast I gan me hye.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.2.19 : The sounynge wyndes moeven and bysien the smothe watir of the see.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)19 : In alle the hevenes, there was no clowde seyn..The eyre attempred, the wyndis smoth [vr. smowth] and pleyn.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)114b : By þese wyndes, þe sees þat of hem selue be stille & smothe beeþ Imade to swelle vp and to make grete wawes & to waxe wood.
- c1450-c1500 Lydg.FP (Bergen)4.2586 : In cristal watres that calm & smothe bee, Arn pereillous pettis ful of decepcioun.
- a1500(?a1410) Lydg.CB (Lnsd 699)184 : Smothe watres beth oft-sithis deepe.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)2678 : O lord..Thi smothe wynd bi grace late enspire, Callid Zephirus.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)23/88 : After grete stormes the wether is often mery and smothe.
3.
(a) Pleasant, gentle; looking pleasant; (b) of words, tongues: flattering; (c) as adv.: softly.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1763 : With smoþe smylyng & smolt þay smeten in-to merþe, Þat al watz blis & bonchef þat breke hem bitwene, & wynne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.22 : Fortunat..Vnwarly can blere a mannys eye..With a face blaundissching and smoþe.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.3162 : He may dissymule & for a tyme feyne, Countirfete with a fair visage..Stille of his port, smothe of his passage..lik a serpent dare, Til he may stynge; & than he wil nat spare.
b
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1794 : This was the counsail..Of swich as liste nat to seyn the soth, But falsly flater with her wordes smoth.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)675 : Whysperyng tounges..Smothe afore folk to fawnyn and to shyne, And shewe two facys in Oon hood.
c
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)177/23 : This worthy lorde began to smothe lagh.