GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Dumb (dŭm), a. [AS. dumb; akin to D. dom stupid, dumb, Sw. dumb, Goth. dumbs; cf. Gr.  blind. See Deaf, and cf. Dummy.]
   1. Destitute of the power of speech; unable; to utter articulate sounds; as, “the dumb brutes”.
   
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   To unloose the very tongues even of dumb creatures. Hooker.
   
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   2. Not willing to speak; mute; silent; not speaking; not accompanied by words; as, “dumb show”.
   
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   This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him. Shak.
   
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   To pierce into the dumb past.  J. C. Shairp.
   
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   3. Lacking brightness or clearness, as a color. [R.]
   
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   Her stern was painted of a dumb white or dun color. De Foe.
   
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   4. Lacking intelligence; having poor judgment; stupid; dull-witted; -- of persons.
   
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   5. Exhibiting poor judgment or lack of wisdom; leading predictably to unfavorable consequences; -- of actions.
   
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   Deaf and dumb. See Deaf-mute. -- Dumb ague, or Dumb chill, a form of intermittent fever which has no well-defined “chill.” [U.S.] -- Dumb animal, any animal except man; -- usually restricted to a domestic quadruped; -- so called in contradistinction to man, who is a “speaking animal.” -- Dumb cake, a cake made in silence by girls on St. Mark's eve, with certain mystic ceremonies, to discover their future husbands. Halliwell. -- Dumb cane (Bot.), a west Indian plant of the Arum family (Dieffenbachia seguina), which, when chewed, causes the tongue to swell, and destroys temporarily the power of speech. -- Dumb crambo. See under crambo. -- Dumb show. (a) Formerly, a part of a dramatic representation, shown in pantomime. “Inexplicable dumb shows and noise.” Shak. (b) Signs and gestures without words; as, to tell a story in dumb show. -- To strike dumb, to confound; to astonish; to render silent by astonishment; or, it may be, to deprive of the power of speech.
   
   Syn. -- Silent; speechless; noiseless. See Mute.
   
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2.       
   Dumb, v. t. To put to silence. [Obs.]  Shak.
   
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