Sekirov Dictionary

smatter

UK /ˈsmætə/US /ˈsmætəɹ/

verb 7
noun 3
forms 5

verb7

To approach or study (something, such as a subject) superficially; to dabble in.
•
To have a slight, superficial knowledge of something; to dabble.
- He smattereth a lytell of the lawe: […] — 1530
•
To speak (a language or words) with only a superficial knowledge of it.
- The Barber smatters latin, I remember. — 1609
(US) To hit (someone or something) with a liquid; to splash, to spatter.
(US) To hit with a liquid; to splash, to spatter.
•
(no longer used) To talk ignorantly or superficially; to babble, to chatter.
- How Cownterfet Cowntenaunce of the new get / With Crafty Conueyauance dothe smater and flater, / And Cloked Collucyoun is brought in to clater / With Courtely Abusyoun; […] — 1523
•
(no longer used) To make (someone or something) dirty; to bespatter, to soil.
- To say the Iesuites are all smattred vvith Atheisme, I vvill not: and to say, that any of them all are absolutely scotfree from it, I cannot: it is so repugnant from their ovvne principles. — 1602

noun3

A shallow or superficial knowledge of a subject.
•
A small amount or number of something.
- [H]e can pray, and tell long Scrifts of Greek, / And broken Smatters of the Hebrevv speak; / And in the Latin he is nicely read; / Can scrape and jouk; then is not he vvell bred? — 1739
Synonym of smattering.

forms

smattered · smattering · smattereth · smatters · smatterest

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