Smote vs. Smitten
For the literary verb “smite,” “smote” is the simple past and “smitten” is the past participle. The guide treats the forms as marked literary vocabulary rather than everyday default wording.
Use “smote” for the simple past of the literary verb “smite” and “smitten” as its past participle.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Sentence need | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| simple past | smote | “Smote” is used as the simple-past form in the documented contrast. |
| past participle | smitten | “Smitten” is used as a past participle in the documented contrast. |
Further guidance
Core difference
“Smote” is the simple-past form of “smite”; “smitten” is its past participle.
Fast Test
Use “smitten” when a past participle is required; use “smote” for a simple-past verb. Check the literary register before choosing “smite” at all.
Register Boundary
Cambridge marks “smite” literary, so these forms can be grammatically correct while still sounding deliberately elevated or old-fashioned in ordinary prose.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- SMITE — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct dictionary evidence for smite / smote / smitten verb forms and literary register