smooth English · revision 5529

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1050}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /smuːð/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|smothe]], [[inh|ang|smōþ]], a variant of the usual Old English smēþe “free from roughness, not harsh”,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) of unknown origin.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) Barnhart compares Old Saxon smōthi.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The verb is Middle English smothen, from the adjective; it replaced the older verb smeeth, from Old English smēþan.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Free from roughness: before 1050 in Barnhart, and level or flat about 1330 in Sir Orfeo.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The usual early Middle English form was smeeth, which after about 1400 was archaic or dialectal; it survives in place names such as Smithfield.^(Etymonline) Of words or manners, pleasant or polite, it is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and later bland and flattering, from the 15th century.^(Hoad 1986) The slang sense “superior, clever” is from 1893 and “stylish” from 1922.^(Etymonline) ''Smooth-tongued'' is from 1592, in Marlowe's Edward II.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, to make smooth, is from about 1200 in Etymonline and 1340 in Barnhart,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and of a graph, to remove irregularities, from 1889.^(Etymonline) ''Smoothie'', a smooth-talking man, is American from 1929.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1050 – free from roughness.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – the verb.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – pleasant, polite.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1592 – ''smooth-tongued''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1893 – superior, clever (slang).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1929 – ''smoothie''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having an even surface, without lumps, holes or roughness.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Even in texture or consistency, without lumps: ''a smooth sauce''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Moving evenly, without jolts: ''a smooth flight''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Free from problems or [[difficulty|alt=difficulties]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Polite and charming, often in a way that seems [[insincere]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make something smooth, flat or even.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To remove problems from something: ''smooth the way''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make a quarrel or bad feeling less serious; to [[calm]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[smoother]]

+ * [[smoothly]]

+ * [[smoothness]]

+ * [[smoothable]]

+ * [[oversmooth]]

+ * [[presmooth]]

+ * [[resmooth]]

+ * [[smoothbore]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[smoothie]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}