smayv.
/smeɪ/ Now dialect.
intransitive. To shrink, to flinch; to feel disinclined, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > be unwilling [verb (intransitive)]
nillOE
loathea1200
to make it tough1297
forthinka1300
reckc1300
ruea1400
to make (it) strangec1405
to make strangenessc1407
stick1418
resistc1425
to make (it) strange?1456
steek1478
tarrowc1480
doubt1483
sunyie1488
to make (it) nice1530
stay1533
shentc1540
to make courtesy (at)1542
to make it scrupulous1548
to think (it) much1548
to make dainty of (anything)1555
to lie aback1560
stand1563
steek1573
to hang back1581
erch1584
to make doubt1586
to hang the groin1587
to make scruple (also a, no, etc., scruple)1589
yearn1597
to hang the winga1601
to make squeamish1611
smay1632
bogglea1638
to hang off1641
waver1643
reluct1648
shy1650
reluctate1655
stickle1656
scruple1660
to make boggle1667
revere1689
begrudge1690
to have scruples1719
stopc1738
bitch1777
reprobate1779
crane1823
disincline1885
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from action [verb (intransitive)] > avoid > shrink or recoil
wondec897
blencha1250
shunta1250
scurnc1325
blenka1330
blinka1400
startc1400
shrink1508
blanch1572
swerve1573
shruga1577
flinch1578
recoil1582
budgea1616
shucka1620
smay1632
blunk1655
shudder1668
resile1678
skew1678
reluctate1833
1632 P. Holland tr. Xenophon Cyrupædia 8 But Cyrus,..not smaying at all,..readily came upon him againe with a reply.
1667 P. Henry Diaries & Lett. (1882) 205 He was of a strong healthy constitution, not smaying for cold in school, like other children, as his master hath told me.
1841– in Cheshire and Shropshire glossaries.
Derivatives
ˈsmaying n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > [noun] > avoiding an action or condition > shrinking or recoiling
wondingc1440
recoil1567
shrinking1580
flinching1600
shrugginga1617
reluctancea1628
blanching1642
smaying1678
shying1796
flinch1817
funking1823
blenching1868
recoiling1892
1678 H. Croft Second Call 30 Men in Duels..receive deadly wounds one after another without any smaying, as if they felt them not.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
<
v.1632