- Deaf
- Deaf Deaf (d[e^]f or d[=e]f; 277), a. [OE. def, deaf, deef,
AS. de['a]f; akin to D. doof, G. taub, Icel. daufr, Dan.
d["o]v, Sw. d["o]f, Goth. daubs, and prob. to E. dumb (the
original sense being, dull as applied to one of the senses),
and perh. to Gr. tyflo`s (for qyflo`s) blind, ty^fos smoke,
vapor, folly, and to G. toben to rage. Cf. {Dum}b.]
1. Wanting the sense of hearing, either wholly or in part;
unable to perceive sounds; hard of hearing; as, a deaf
man.
[1913 Webster]
Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. Unwilling to hear or listen; determinedly inattentive; regardless; not to be persuaded as to facts, argument, or exhortation; -- with to; as, deaf to reason. [1913 Webster]
O, that men's ears should be To counsel deaf, but not to flattery! --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. Deprived of the power of hearing; deafened. [1913 Webster]
Deaf with the noise, I took my hasty flight. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
4. Obscurely heard; stifled; deadened. [R.] [1913 Webster]
A deaf murmur through the squadron went. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
5. Decayed; tasteless; dead; as, a deaf nut; deaf corn. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell. [1913 Webster]
If the season be unkindly and intemperate, they [peppers] will catch a blast; and then the seeds will be deaf, void, light, and naught. --Holland. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.