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In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed... No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people. Preface to 1828 Dictionary
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SMITE, v.t. pret. smote; pp. smitten, smil. [This verb is the L. mitto.]
To strike; to inflict a blow
upon with the hand, or with any instrument held in the hand, or with a
missile thrown by the hand; as, to smite with the fist, with a
rod, sword, spear, or stone.
Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matt. v. 39. And David . . . took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead. 1 Sam. xvii. 49. To cause to strike; to use as an instrument
in striking or hurling.
Prophesy, and smite thine hands together. Ezek. xxi. 14. Saul . . . smote the javelin into the wall. 1 Sam. xix. 10. To destroy the life of by beating, or by
weapons of any kind; to slay by a blow; to kill; as, to smite
one with the sword, or with an arrow or other instrument.
To put to rout in battle; to overthrow by
war.
To blast; to destroy the life or vigor of,
as by a stroke or by some visitation.
The flax and the barly was smitten. Ex. ix. 31. 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. Wake. To strike or affect with passion, as love
or fear.
The charms that smite the simple heart. Pope. Smit with the love of sister arts we came. Pope. To smite off, to cut off. -- To smite out, to knock out, as a tooth. Exod. xxi. 27. -- To smite with the tongue, to reproach or upbraid; to revile. [Obs.] Jer. xviii. 18. To strike; to collide;
to beat.
[Archaic]
The heart melteth, and the knees smite together. Nah. ii. 10. The act of smiting; a
blow.
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