hit
UK[hɪt]US[hɪt]
v
to bring your hand, or an object you are holding, against somebody/something quickly and with force
v
to have a bad effect on somebody/something; to cause harm or damage
n
an act of hitting somebody/something
n
a person or thing that is very popular or successful
Etymology
The verb 'hit' originates from the Old English 'hyttan', which likely meant 'to meet with, come upon'. Its ultimate origin is Proto-Germanic hittijaną, meaning 'to find, meet with'. The core semantic thread from its ancient roots involves a forceful or impactful meeting or contact. Over time, this sense of contact specialized to mean a deliberate, forceful strike with the hand or an object, while also broadening to include metaphorical impacts, such as a song becoming popular or a problem affecting someone. This journey from a general 'meeting' to a specific 'strike' and then to abstract 'success' or 'effect' illustrates a classic path of semantic narrowing and broadening.
Analysis
The word 'hit' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It functions as a single, unanalyzable morpheme in modern English.
Examples
He hit the ball so hard it flew over the fence.
The company's profits were hit hard by the economic downturn.
Their new single was an instant hit, topping charts worldwide.