- smother
- smother [smuth′ər]vt.[ME smorthren < smorther, dense smoke < base of OE smorian, to suffocate, akin to MLowG smoren, to smoke < var. of IE base * smel- > SMELL]1.a) to keep from getting enough air to breathe; stifleb) to kill in this way; suffocate2. to cover (a fire), excluding air from it and causing it to smolder or die down3. to cover over thickly [liver smothered in onions]4. to hide or suppress by or as by covering; stifle [to smother a yawn]vi.1.a) to be kept from getting enough air to breatheb) to die in this way; be suffocated2. to be hidden, stifled, or suppressedn.1. dense, suffocating smoke or any thick cloud of dust, steam, fog, etc.2. a confused turmoil; welter3. Archaic a smoldering fire4. Archaic a smoldering state or conditionsmotherern.smotheryadj.
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.