smethen

Middle English

Alternative forms

• smeþie, smeþ, smeþen
• smeðin, smeþien (Early Middle English)

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)

1. To smoothen; to make smooth.
2. To palliate; to smooth over a wrong.
3. (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.