smitten

adjective

1. 1

   Affected by an act of smiting.

   [A] smited man is a man struck; a smitten man is a man affected by the act of smiting: […]

   There was a tense silence over the throng as the old man stood and looked at the figure at his feet. There were shadows on the earl's face, and his hands shook, for the smitten man was his son.

   The Bible shows the way of God with man and the way of man with God. It contains both the complaint of God against the wicked and the shriek of the smitten man, demanding justice of God.

   [W]hen the alternate designation is introduced, turning the character from “man” or “brother” to “his smiter,” this balance is disturbed, and suddenly we have a smiter and a smitten person, not two people in a fight with each other.

2. 2

   Affected by an act of smiting. Made irrationally enthusiastic.

   There is not, I am persuaded, an individual of the many Nature-smitten enthusiasts who yearly visit the wild glens of Kincardineshire, that would not walk barefoot a hundred miles to kneel at the tomb of him who founded the beautifully-situated village of Balrangle.

   One of the side benefits of such has been making the acquaintances of similarly smitten enthusiasts, and inevitably they are keen to share both plants and experiences.

   Welcome to the world of the Hobie Cat addict, that 100,000-strong armada of hopelessly smitten enthusiasts who insist that nothing in life quite measures up to the unrestrained joy of breezing along on a twin-hulled Hobie.

3. 3

   Affected by an act of smiting. In love.

   At the end of the long procession came a smitten woman. […] I think of the women who have fastened the tendrils of their heart's affection round unworthy men, and have married them, hoping, trusting and believing that their love and influence would be powerful enough to win the men to sobriety and virtue. Alas! how mistaken they have been!

   In “The Soldier Maid,” a woman falls in love with the cross-dressed woman, thinking she is a man. The smitten woman, then, perceives herself in heterosexual mode – though the person to whom she is attracted is actually female.

   “I’m a man, Violet,” he reminded her as they walked out to his car after making their goodbyes to their host. “I know a smitten man when I see one. Kemp’s got it bad.”

   Isabella had complained to her father on several occasions over his actions. Father had responded by stating that it was natural for a healthy man to pay attention to a beautiful woman. The curt thank you and show of disinterest was no distraction to the smitten man.

verb

1. 1

   Also a form of smitepast participle of smite.

Forms

comparative

more smitten

superlative

most smitten