smother

smother
I. noun Etymology: Middle English, alteration of smorther, from smoren to smother, from Old English smorian to suffocate; akin to Middle Dutch smoren to suffocate Date: 13th century 1. a. thick stifling smoke or smudge b. a state of being stifled or suppressed 2. a dense cloud (as of fog or dust) 3. a confused multitude of things ; weltersmothery adjective II. verb (smothered; smothering) Date: circa 1520 intransitive verb to be overcome or killed through or as if through lack of air transitive verb 1. to overcome or kill with smoke or fumes 2. a. to kill by depriving of air b. to overcome or discomfit through or as if through lack of air c. to suppress (a fire) by excluding oxygen 3. a. to cause to smolder b. to suppress expression or knowledge of <
smothered his rage
>
c. to stop or prevent the growth or activity of <
smother a child with too much care
>
; also overwhelm d. to cover thickly ; blanket <
snow smothered the trails
>
e. to overcome or vanquish quickly or decisively 4. to cook in a covered pan or pot with little liquid over low heat

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Smother — Smoth er, n. [OE. smorther. See {Smother}, v. t.] 1. Stifling smoke; thick dust. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. A state of suppression. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Not to keep their suspicions in smother. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 3. That which smothers or causes …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Smother — Студийный альбом …   Википедия

  • Smother — Smoth er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Smothered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Smothering}.] [OE. smotheren; akin to E. smoor. See {Smoor}.] 1. To destroy the life of by suffocation; to deprive of the air necessary for life; to cover up closely so as to prevent… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • smother — ► VERB 1) suffocate by covering the nose and mouth. 2) extinguish (a fire) by covering it. 3) (smother in/with) cover entirely with. 4) cause to feel trapped and oppressed. 5) suppress (a feeling or action). ► NOUN …   English terms dictionary

  • smother — [smuth′ər] vt. [ME smorthren < smorther, dense smoke < base of OE smorian, to suffocate, akin to MLowG smoren, to smoke < var. of IE base * smel > SMELL] 1. a) to keep from getting enough air to breathe; stifle b) to kill in this way; …   English World dictionary

  • Smother — Smoth er, v. i. 1. To be suffocated or stifled. [1913 Webster] 2. To burn slowly, without sufficient air; to smolder. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Smother — est un film américain de Vince DiMeglio sorti en 2007. Sommaire 1 Synopsis 2 Fiche technique 3 Distribution 4 Lien externe …   Wikipédia en Français

  • smother — index assuage, extinguish, hamper, inhibit, prohibit, repress, stifle, strangle, subdue …   Law dictionary

  • smother — (v.) c.1200, to suffocate with smoke, from smorthre (n.) dense, suffocating smoke (late 12c.), from stem of O.E. smorian to suffocate, choke, possibly connected to SMOLDER (Cf. smolder). Meaning to kill by suffocation is from 1540s; sense of to… …   Etymology dictionary

  • smother — vb *suffocate, asphyxiate, stifle, choke, strangle, throttle …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • smother — [v] extinguish; cover, hide asphyxiate, choke, collect, compose, conceal, control, cool, cork, douse, envelop, heap, hush up*, inundate, keep back, kill, muffle, overwhelm, quash, quell, quench, rein, repress, restrain, shower, shroud, simmer… …   New thesaurus

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