c. 1200, "to suffocate with smoke," from smother (n.), earlier smorthre "dense, suffocating smoke" (late 12c.), from stem of Old English smorian "to suffocate, choke, strangle, stifle," cognate with Middle Dutch smoren, German schmoren; possibly connected to smolder. Meaning "to kill by suffocation in any manner" is from 1540s; sense of "to extinguish a fire" is from 1590s. Sense of "stifle, repress" is first recorded 1570s; meaning "to cover thickly (with some substance)" is from 1590s. Related: Smothered; smothering.
实用例句
1. She summoned up all her pity for him, to smother her self-pity.
她抑制着心中的自怜，将满腔的怜悯之情都倾注在了他的身上。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Don't put that cloth over the baby's face, you'll smother him!
不要把布盖在那个婴儿脸上, 会使他窒息的!
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. They tried to smother the flames with a damp blanket.
