n. [ OE. strok, strook, strak, fr. striken. See Strike, v. t. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

His hand fetcheth a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree. Deut. xix. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

A fool's lips enter into contention and his mouth calleth for strokes. Prov. xviii. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

He entered and won the whole kingdom of Naples without striking a stroke. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The result of effect of a striking; injury or affliction; soreness. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the day that Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound. Isa. xxx. 26. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The striking of the clock to tell the hour. [ 1913 Webster ]

Well, but what's o'clock?
- Upon the stroke of ten. -- Well, let is strike. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A gentle, caressing touch or movement upon something; a stroking. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

O, lasting as those colors may they shine,
Free as thy stroke, yet faultless as thy line. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Hence, by extension, an addition or amandment to a written composition; a touch; as, to give some finishing strokes to an essay. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

At this one stroke the man looked dead in law. Harte. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. A throb or beat, as of the heart. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

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.; also: (Rowing) (a) The rate of succession of stroke; as, a quick stroke. (b) The oar nearest the stern of a boat, by which the other oars are guided; -- called also stroke oar. (c) The rower who pulls the stroke oar; the strokesman. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. (Mach.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The respective strokes are distinguished as up and down strokes, outward and inward strokes, forward and back strokes, the forward stroke in stationary steam engines being toward the crosshead, but in locomotives toward the front of the vehicle. [ 1913 Webster ]

12. Power; influence. [ Obs. ] “Where money beareth [ hath ] all the stroke.” Robynson (More's Utopia). [ 1913 Webster ]

He has a great stroke with the reader. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

13. Appetite. [ Obs. ] Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

To keep stroke, to make strokes in unison. [ 1913 Webster ]

The oars where silver,
Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

obs. imp. of Strike. Struck. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Strokeed p. pr. & vb. n. Strokeing. ] [ OE. stroken, straken, AS. strācian, fr. strīcan to go over, pass. See Strike, v. t., and cf. Straggle. ] 1. To strike. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Ye mote with the plat sword again
Stroken him in the wound, and it will close. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

He dried the falling drops, and, yet more kind,
He stroked her cheeks. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To make smooth by rubbing. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Masonry) To give a finely fluted surface to. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To row the stroke oar of; as, to stroke a boat. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who strokes; also, one who pretends to cure by stroking. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cures worked by Greatrix the stroker. Bp. Warburton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Strokesman (Rowing) The man who rows the aftermost oar, and whose stroke is to be followed by the rest. Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]