▪ I. smore, n. Now Sc.
(smɔə(r))
Also 4 smorre.
[f. smore v. Cf. Du. and Flem. smoor, G. (rare) schmor.]
Smother, smoke, etc.
| 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xx. 303 (MS. Cott. Vesp.), Þe smoke and þe smorre þat smyth in oure eyne. Ibid. 323. 1866 W. Gregor Banffsh. Gloss. 171 Smore, a stifling smoke;..a close, stifling atmosphere [etc.]. |
▪ II. smore, v. Now Sc. and north. dial.
(smɔə(r))
Forms: 1 smorian, 4– smore (4 smor, 6 Sc. smoir), 7–9 smoar; 9 dial. smor(r, smur(r. See also smoor v.
[OE. smorian, = WFris. smoarje, smoare, MDu. and Du. smoren (Flem. also smooren), MLG. and LG. smoren (hence G. schmoren), of uncertain relationship. The stem is the base of early ME. smorðer, smorðren smother n. and v.]
1. trans. To suffocate, smother.
| c 725 Corpus Gloss. S 558 St[r]angulat, wyrᵹeð, uel smorað. c 975 Rushw. Gosp. Matt. xiii. 7 Sume þonne ᵹefetun in þornas & wexon þa þornas & smoradun hiæ. a 1300 Cursor M. 8670 Mi felaw smord hir barn in bedd. c 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 7601 All suld be smored withouten dout, War ne þa hevens ay moved obout. c 1440 Alph. Tales 145 As hur fadur was slepand vndernethe a matres, sho smoryd him odead. a 1470 Harding Chron. clxxviii. xx, Thei smored were by their contrariaunce. 1513 More Rich. III (1883) 84 Smored and styfled, theyr breath failing, thei gaue vp to God their innocent soules. 1585 Jas. I Ess. Poesie (Arb.) 39 A rauing cloude, Which threatnes..To smore and drowne him. ? a 1800 Lady Diamond in Child Ballads V. 37/2 Bring here to me that bonny boy, And we'll smore him right quietlie. 1808 Jamieson s.v. Thow, Smore Thow,..a heavy snow, accompanied with a strong wind, which..threatens to smore, smother, or suffocate one. |
b. To suffocate or smother in or with smoke, or implying this.
| 14.. Smyth & his Dame 380 in Hazl. E.P.P. III. 215 Whan he had smored her in y⊇ smok. c 1450 Holland Howlat 825 Lyke a smaik smorit in a smedy. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xxvi. 120 In the depest pot of hell He smorit thame with smvke. 1584 Hudson Du Bartas' Judith iii. 124 Some other vndertooke To fire the gates, or smore the towne with smoke. c 1755 R. Forbes Jrnl. from London 2 He was like to smore us a' i' the coach wi' the very ewder [of his pipe]. |
c. intr. To choke, be suffocated.
| c 1470 Henry Wallace vii. 452 Sum neuir rais, bot smoryt quhar thai lay. a 1586 Montgomerie Misc. Poems xlvi. 55, I smore if I conceill, I wrak if I reveill, My hurt. 1808 Jamieson s.v., ‘I was like to smore’: I was in danger of being suffocated. |
2. fig. To smother, suppress, keep in obscurity or concealment, put or keep down, etc.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xl. (Ninian) 156 Sa þat þe science lent to þe be nocht tynt na smoryt in þe. c 1470 Henry Wallace xi. 1436 Gret harm I thocht his gud deid suld be smord. 1538 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) II. 164 Yf the same shuld be smored or mysordered after your decease. 1599 Jas. I βασιλ. Δωρον (1603) 47 Vntill yee roote out these barbarous feides, that their effectes may bee..smoared downe. 1637 Gillespie Eng. Pop. Cerem. Ep. A iij b, The true life of godlinesse is smoared downe and suppressed by the burthen of these human inventions. 1790 Shirrefs Poems 179 'Till now, I smoar'd my joy within my breast. |
† 3. To smear, bedaub. Obs.—0
| 1530 Palsgr. 723/2 Where have you ben, you have all to smored your face. |
† 4. To cook in a close vessel. Also intr. Obs.
This sense is prominent in Du., Flem., LG., and G.
| 1562 Turner Herbal (1568) 76 They put it [slauke] in a poot, and smore it, as they call it, and then it looketh blake. 1615 Markham Eng. Housew. (1660) 67 Set it on a gentle fire, and let it stew, and smoar till the hearbs and onyons be soft. |
5. intr. To smoulder. rare.
| 1651 H. More Enthus. Tri. (1712) 17 Melancholy, that lies at first smoaring in the Heart and Blood. 1854 A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss., Smore, to burn without flame. ‘The fire smores.’ |
Hence ˈsmoring vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 461/1 Smorynge, fumigacio. 1586 Rec. Elgin (Spald. Cl.) II. 6 To prowe the death of hir tua bairnis to have bein without violence and smoiring. 1642 H. More Song of Soul i. iii. 38 There lyes A little spark.., But smoreing filth so close it doth comprize That it cannot flame out. Ibid. ii. iii. ii. 15 Let fall that smoring mantle. 1647 ― Exorcismus ii, Thou fast-bound ball Of smoring darknesse! |