- 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 ; welter
• smothery 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.