Dictionary entry

Hit (3)

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Hit (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Hit; p. pr. & vb. n.Hitting.] [OE. hitten, hutten, of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. hitte to hit, find, Sw. & Icel. hitta.] 1. To reach with a stroke or blow; to strike or touch, usually with force; especially, to reach or touch (an object aimed at).

I think you have hit the mark. Shak.

2. To reach or attain exactly; to meet according to the occasion; to perform successfully; to attain to; to accord with; to be conformable to; to suit.

Birds learning tunes, and their endeavors to hit the notes right. Locke.

There you hit him;... that argument never fails with him. Dryden.

Whose saintly visage is too bright

To hit the sense of human sight. Milton.

He scarcely hit my humor. Tennyson.

3. To guess; to light upon or discover. “Thou hast hit it.” Shak.

4. (Backgammon) To take up, or replace by a piece belonging to the opposing player; — said of a single unprotected piece on a point.

To hit off, to describe with quick characteristic strokes; as, to hit off a speaker. Sir W. Temple.To hit out, to perform by good luck. Spenser.