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Webster 1913 Edition

Damp

Damp

(dămp)
,
Noun.
[Akin to LG., D., & Dan.
damp
vapor, steam, fog, G.
dampf
, Icel.
dampi
, Sw.
damb
dust, and to MNG.
dimpfen
to smoke, imp.
dampf
.]
1.
Moisture; humidity; fog; fogginess; vapor.
Night . . . with black air
Accompanied, with
damps
and dreadful gloom.
Milton.
2.
Dejection; depression; cloud of the mind.
Even now, while thus I stand blest in thy presence,
A secret
damp
of grief comes o’er my soul.
Addison.
It must have thrown a
damp
over your autumn excursion.
J. D. Forbes.
3.
(Mining)
A gaseous product, formed in coal mines, old wells, pints, etc.
Choke damp
,
a damp consisting principally of carbonic acid gas; – so called from its extinguishing flame and animal life. See
Carbonic acid
, under
Carbonic
.
–
Damp sheet
,
a curtain in a mine gallery to direct air currents and prevent accumulation of gas.
–
Fire damp
,
a damp consisting chiefly of light carbureted hydrogen; – so called from its tendence to explode when mixed with atmospheric air and brought into contact with flame.

Damp

(dămp)
,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Damper
;
sup
erl.
Dampest
.]
1.
Being in a state between dry and wet; moderately wet; moist; humid.
O'erspread with a
damp
sweat and holy fear.
Dryden.
2.
Dejected; depressed; sunk.
[R.]
All these and more came flocking, but with looks
Downcast and
damp
.
Milton.

Damp

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Damped
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Damping
.]
[OE.
dampen
to choke, suffocate. See
Damp
,
Noun.
]
1.
To render damp; to moisten; to make humid, or moderately wet; to dampen;
as, to
damp
cloth
.
2.
To put out, as fire; to depress or deject; to deaden; to cloud; to check or restrain, as action or vigor; to make dull; to weaken; to discourage.
“To damp your tender hopes.”
Akenside.
Usury dulls and
damps
all industries, improvements, and new inventions, wherein money would be stirring if it were not for this slug.
Bacon.
How many a day has been
damped
and darkened by an angry word!
Sir J. Lubbock.
The failure of his enterprise
damped
the spirit of the soldiers.
Macaulay.

Webster 1828 Edition

Damp

DAMP

, a.
1.
Moist; humid; being in a state between dry and wet; as a damp cloth; damp air; sometimes, foggy; as, the atmosphere is damp; but it may be damp without visible vapor.
2.
Dejected; sunk; depressed; chilled.

DAMP

, n.
1. Moist air; humidity; moisture; fog.
2.
Dejection; depression of spirits; chill. We say, to strike a damp, or to cast a damp, on the spirits.
3.
Damps. plu. Noxious exhalations issuing from the earth, and deleterious or fatal to animal life. These are often known to exist in wells, which continue long covered and not used, and in mines and coal-pits; and sometimes they issue from the old lavas of volcanoes. These damps are usually the carbonic acid gas, vulgarly called choke-damp, which instantly suffocates; or some inflammable gas, called fire-damp.

DAMP

, v.t.
1.
To moisten; to make humid, or moderately wet.
2.
To chill; to deaden; to depress or deject; to abate; as, to damp the spirits; to damp the ardor of passion.
3.
To weaken; to make dull; as, to damp sound.
4.
To check or restrain, as action or vigor; to make languid; to discourage; as, to damp industry.

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