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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Smart

Smärt, n.

noun

n. [L. Ger. smart, D. smart, smert, Dan. smerte, Sw. smärta, O. H. Ger. smerza, N. H. Ger. schmerz, allied to Russ. smertj], Lat. mors, death.]

  1. Quick, pungent, lively pain; a prickling, local pain, as the pain from puncture by nettles; as, the smart of bodily punishment.
  2. Severe, pungent pain of mind; pungent grief; as, the smart of affliction. “To stand ’twixt us and our deserved smart?” Milton.
  3. A fellow who affects smartness, briskness, and vivacity. [Cant.]
  4. (Mil.) The same as SMART-MONEY.

Smärt, v. i.

verbintransitive

[imp. & p. p. SMARTED; p. pr. & vb. n. SMARTING.] [D. smarten, smerten, Dan. smerte, Sw. smärta, A-S. smeortan, O. H. Ger. smerzan, M. H. Ger. smerzen, N. H. Ger. schmerzen.]

  1. To feel a lively, pungent pain, particularly a pungent, local pain from some piercing or irritating application.
  2. To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain; as, to smart under sufferings.
  3. To be punished; to bear penalties or evil consequences.

He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it. Prov. xi. 15.

Smärt, a.

adjective

a. [compar. SMARTER; superl. SMARTEST.]

Sense 1. Causing a keen, local pain; pungent; pricking; as, a smart lash or stroke; a smart quality or taste.

Sense 2. Keen; severe; poignant; as, smart pain or sufferings.

Sense 3. Quick; vigorous; sharp; severe. “Smart skirmishes.”

Sense 4. Accomplishing, or able to accomplish, results quickly; active; efficient; vigorous; brilliant. “The stars shine smarter.” Dryden.

Sense 5. Marked by acuteness or shrewdness; quick in suggestion or reply; vivacious; witty; as, a smart reply; a smart saying.

Who, for the poor renown of being smart, Would leave a sting within a brother’s heart? Young.

Sense 6. Pretentious; showy; dashy; spruce.

Sense 7. Brisk; fresh; as, a smart breeze.

Synonyms—Pungent; quick; lively; keen; dashy; showy; clever.—SMART, CLEVER. Smart has been much used in New England to describe a person who is intelligent, vigorous, and active; as, a smart young fellow, a smart workman, &c., coinciding very nearly with the English sense of clever. The nearest approach to this in England is in such expressions as, he was smart (pungent or witty) in his reply, &c. But smart and smartness, when applied to persons, are more commonly used in reference to dress; as, a smart appearance, &c.