smethen
Middle English
Alternative forms
- smeþie, smeþ, smeþen
- smeðin, smeþien (early)
Etymology
Inherited from Old English smēþan, smēþian; equivalent to smethe + -en (infinitival suffix).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈsmeːðən/
Verb
smethen (third-person singular simple present smetheth, present participle smethende, smethynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle smethed)
- To smoothen; to make smooth.
- To palliate; to smooth over a wrong.
- (rare) To become smooth or level.
Conjugation
Conjugation of smethen (weak in -ed)
| infinitive | (to) smethen | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| present tense | past tense | ||
| 1st-person singular | smethe | smethed | |
| 2nd-person singular | smethest | smethedest | |
| 3rd-person singular | smetheth | smethed | |
| subjunctive singular | smethe | ||
| imperative singular | — | ||
| plural1 | smethen, smethe | smetheden, smethede | |
| imperative plural | smetheth, smethe | — | |
| participles | smethynge, smethende | smethed, ysmethed | |
1Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.
Descendants
- English: smeeth (dialectal)
References
- “smẹ̄then, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.