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unsmote

Archaic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Not struck or not defeated. This is an old-fashioned poetic form.

Detailed Definition
Unsmitten or unsmote is an archaic way of saying 'not struck' or 'not defeated.' Byron uses it in a grand, biblical style to emphasize that the enemy fell without ordinary battle.
Example
Example in poetry:
“And the might of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword” (Byron, “The Destruction of Sennacherib”); The shield returned unsmote from battle; “Unsmote” is an archaic past participle meaning not struck; The tower stood unsmote by lightning or siege; Its biblical diction gives the line an elevated, historical tone
Additional Notes
The form in the quoted line is archaic and uncommon in modern English.; Found in the poem, The Destruction of Sennacherib by Lord Byron
Also Known As
untouched unscathed unhurt unblemished
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