stroke

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   An act of hitting

   An act of hitting; a blow, a hit.

   • a stroke on the chin
   • Hee paſſed the vvhole length of Italie vvithout reſiſtance, […] He likevviſe entred and vvonne (in effect) the vvhole Kingdome of Naples it ſelfe, vvithout ſtriking ſtroke.
2. 2

   A movement similar to that of hitting.

   • the stroke of a bird’s wing in flying
3. 3

   An act causing hurt or death, especially when seen as divine punishment.

   • the stroke of death
   • The stroke of God, Aduersyte I hyght; / I pluke downe kynge, prynce, lorde, and knyght, / I rushe at them rughly, and make them ly full lowe, / And in theyr moste truste i make them ouerthrowe.
   • Sheele make you ſhrinke as I did, vvith a ſtroke / But of her eye Tigranes.
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   1. 4

      A damaging occurrence, especially if sudden

      A damaging occurrence, especially if sudden; a blow, a calamity.

      • The Abp. [Archbishop] of York [John Dolben] now died of yᵉ small pox, aged 62, a corpulent man. […] I looke on this as a greate stroke to yᵉ poore Church of England, now in this defecting period.
      • T'encreaſe this load, ſome ſycophant-report / Deſtroy'd his int'reſt and good grace at court. / At this one ſtroke the man look'd dead in lavv: / His flatt'rers ſcamper, and his friends vvithdravv.
      • Tom's whole soul was filled with thoughts of eternity; and while he ministered around the lifeless clay, he did not once think that the sudden stroke had left him in hopeless slavery.
   2. 5

      An amount of work

      An amount of work; specifically, a large amount of business or work.

      • a stroke of business
      • ["]But I'm gwine, Mas'r George,—gwine to have four dollars a week; and Missis is gwine to lay it all up, to buy back my old man agin!" / "Whew!" said George, "here's a stroke of business, to be sure! How are you going [to Louisville]?"
   3. 6

      A powerful or sudden effort by which something is done or produced

      A powerful or sudden effort by which something is done or produced; also, something accomplished by such an effort; an achievement, a feat.

      • a stroke of genius
   4. 7

      A single movement of a paintbrush, chisel, pen, pencil, or similar implement

      A single movement of a paintbrush, chisel, pen, pencil, or similar implement; a line or mark made by such an implement.

   5. 8

      A distinctive expression in a written composition

      A distinctive expression in a written composition; a touch.

      • to give some finishing strokes to an essay
   6. 9

      Influence

      Influence; power.

      • [W]here ſoeuer poſſeſſyons be pryuate, where moneye beareth all the ſtroke, it is hard and almoſte impoſſyble that there the weale publyque maye iuſtelye be gouerned and proſperouſlye floryſhe: […]
      • For I find by Experience he has a great Stroke vvith the Reader, vvhen he condemns any of my Poems to make the VVorld have a better Opinion of them.
   7. 10

      A masterful or effective action.

   8. 11

      A sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain, causing minor to major brain damage…

      A sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain, causing minor to major brain damage and possible death.

      • suffer a stroke
   9. 12

      An individual discharge of lightning, particularly if causing damage.

      • A flash of lightning may be made up of several strokes. If they are separated by enough time for the eye to distinguish them, the lightning will appear to flicker.
   10. 13

       An individual social interaction whereby one gives another attention or recognition.

       • Being gay and in prison is a very lonely experience. I would like to get some gay contacts on the outside that could give me some positive strokes.
   11. 14

       The effect or result of a striking

       The effect or result of a striking; affliction or injury; a bruise or wound; soreness.

   12. 15

       Chiefly in to have a good stroke

       Chiefly in to have a good stroke: appetite.

       • [N]either can any man be entertain'd as a Soldier, that has not a greater ſtroke than ordinary at eating: for by this they judge of his ſtrength and conſtitution.
       • Lady Answ[erall]. God bleſs you, Colonel; you have a good Stroke vvith you. / Col[onel Atwit]. O Madam; formerly I could eat all, but novv I leave nothing; I eat but one Meal a Day.
       • Rooks are said to be fattest when food is scarcest, as they "owereat thorsels" when they have too much food. The same is said of lean children who have a good stroke (appetite).
   13. 16

       A sudden attack of any illness, especially if causing loss of consciousness or movement,…

       A sudden attack of any illness, especially if causing loss of consciousness or movement, or when fatal.

       • a stroke of apoplexy
   14. 17

       A bow or pluck of a string or strings of a stringed instrument

       A bow or pluck of a string or strings of a stringed instrument; also, the manner in which a musical instrument is played; hence, a melody, a tune.

       • Or can he desire a nobler or a fuller Argument either for the softest Aires or the loudest Echoes, for the smoothest or briskest strokes of his Pindaric Lyre?
   15. 18

       To draw the horizontal line across the upright part (of the letter t).

   16. 19

       Followed by out or through

       Followed by out or through: to draw a line or lines through (text) to indicate that it is deleted; to cancel, to strike or strike out.

   17. 20

       Of a bell or clock

       Of a bell or clock: to chime or sound to indicate (the hour, the time, etc.).

   18. 21

       To mark (something) with lines or stripes

       To mark (something) with lines or stripes; to stripe.

   19. 22

       To hit or kick (the ball) with a flowing or smooth motion

       To hit or kick (the ball) with a flowing or smooth motion; also, to score (a goal, a point, etc.) by doing so.

   20. 23

       Of a rower or a crew

       Of a rower or a crew: to row at (a rate of a certain number of strokes (“movements of the oar through water”) per minute).

   21. 24

       To act as the stroke (“rower who is nearest the stern of the boat, the movement of whose…

       To act as the stroke (“rower who is nearest the stern of the boat, the movement of whose oar sets the rowing rhythm for the other rowers”) of (a boat or its crew).

       • to stroke a boat
   22. 25

       To strike (the water) with one's arms and legs when swimming.

   23. 26

       To lengthen the stroke of (an engine) by installing a crankshaft with longer throws.

       • Yes, it's 'only' a small block, but it’s got some tricks up its sleeve — it's been bored, stroked, ported, polished, and fuel-injected.
   24. 27

       To depict (something) with a paintbrush.

   25. 28

       Chiefly followed by out

       Chiefly followed by out: to suffer loss of brain function when the blood supply to the brain is suddenly interrupted; to have a stroke (noun sense 4).

   26. 29

       To swim by making co-ordinated movements with the arms and legs.

   27. 30

       To move one's hand or an object (such as a broom or brush) along (a surface) in one…

       To move one's hand or an object (such as a broom or brush) along (a surface) in one direction, touching it lightly; to caress.

       • The tender Sire, vvho ſavv her bluſh, and cry, / Aſcrib'd it all to Maiden-modeſty, / And dry'd the falling Drops, and yet more kind, / He ſtroak'd her Cheeks, and holy Kiſſes join'd.
   28. 31

       To bring (something) to a certain condition by stroking (sense 1).

   29. 32

       To give assurance to (someone) through encouragement.

       • [W]hen thou cam'ſt firſt / Thou ſtroakſt me, & made much of me: […]
   30. 33

       To influence (someone) by convincing or flattering them.

   31. 34

       To milk (a cow or other animal)

       To milk (a cow or other animal); especially, to squeeze the teat of (a cow, etc.) to extract the last bit of milk from the udder; to strap (dialectal), to strip.

   32. 35

       To give a finely fluted surface to (stone) by carving it with a tool.

   33. 36

       To sharpen (a knife or other cutting instrument) by honing or rubbing it against a…

       To sharpen (a knife or other cutting instrument) by honing or rubbing it against a surface.

   34. 37

       To soothe (someone)

       To soothe (someone); also, to flatter or indulge (someone).

   35. 38

       An act of moving one's hand or an object along a surface in one direction, touching it…

       An act of moving one's hand or an object along a surface in one direction, touching it lightly; a caress.

       • She gave the cat a stroke.
   36. 39

       A gesture of assurance given as encouragement

       A gesture of assurance given as encouragement; specifically (psychoanalysis) in transactional analysis: a (generally positive) reaction expressed to a person which fulfils their desires or needs.

       • Not providing a stroke to a client can sometimes facilitate the client in becoming aware of their neediness or desire for approval. By not giving a stroke, the client's need is brought to the surface, where it is amenable to change, […]
   37. 40

       A flattering or friendly act, comment, etc., done or made to a person to influence them.

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