Stroke — Defs

01 imp. Struck.

1.
Struck.obs.

02 n. The act of striking; a blow; a hit; a knock; esp., a violent or hostile attack made with the arm or hand, or with an instrument or weapon.

1.
The act of striking; a blow; a hit; a knock; esp., a violent or hostile attack made with the arm or hand, or with an instrument or weapon.
“His hand fetcheth a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree.” — Deut. xix. 5.

“A fool's lips enter into contention and his mouth calleth for strokes.” — Prov. xviii. 6.

“He entered and won the whole kingdom of Naples without striking a stroke.” — Bacon.
2.
The result of effect of a striking; injury or affliction; soreness.
“In the day that Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.” — Isa. xxx. 26.
3.
The striking of the clock to tell the hour.
“Well, but what's o'clock? - Upon the stroke of ten. -- Well, let is strike.” — Shak.
4.
A gentle, caressing touch or movement upon something; a stroking.
5.
A mark or dash in writing or printing; a line; the touch of a pen or pencil; as, an up stroke; a firm stroke.
“O, lasting as those colors may they shine, Free as thy stroke, yet faultless as thy line.” — Pope.
6.
Hence, by extension, an addition or amandment to a written composition; a touch; as, to give some finishing strokes to an essay.
7.
A sudden attack of disease; especially, a fatal attack; a severe disaster; any affliction or calamity, especially a sudden one; as, a stroke of apoplexy; the stroke of death.
“At this one stroke the man looked dead in law.” — Harte.
8.
A throb or beat, as of the heart.
9.
One of a series of beats or movements against a resisting medium, by means of which movement through or upon it is accomplished; as, the stroke of a bird's wing in flying, or an oar in rowing, of a skater, swimmer, etc.(Rowing)
10.
A powerful or sudden effort by which something is done, produced, or accomplished; also, something done or accomplished by such an effort; as, a stroke of genius; a stroke of business; a master stroke of policy.
11.
The movement, in either direction, of the piston plunger, piston rod, crosshead, etc., as of a steam engine or a pump, in which these parts have a reciprocating motion; as, the forward stroke of a piston; also, the entire distance passed through, as by a piston, in such a movement; as, the piston is at half stroke.(Mach.)
12.
Power; influence.[Obs.]
“He has a great stroke with the reader.” — Dryden.
13.
Appetite.[Obs.]
“The oars where silver, Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke.” — Shak.

Phrases & compounds

To keep stroke — to make strokes in unison.

03 v. t. To strike.

imp. & p. p. Strokeed; p. pr. & vb. n. Strokeing

1.
To strike.[Obs.]
“Ye mote with the plat sword again Stroken him in the wound, and it will close.” — Chaucer.
2.
To rib gently in one direction; especially, to pass the hand gently over by way of expressing kindness or tenderness; to caress; to soothe.
“He dried the falling drops, and, yet more kind, He stroked her cheeks.” — Dryden.
3.
To make smooth by rubbing.
4.
To give a finely fluted surface to.(Masonry)
5.
To row the stroke oar of; as, to stroke a boat.