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Webster 1913 Edition


Dumbness

Dumb′ness

,
Noun.
The quality or state of being dumb; muteness; silence; inability to speak.

Webster 1828 Edition


Dumbness

DUMBNESS

,
Noun.
Dumness.
1.
Muteness; silence or holding the peace; omission of speech. This is voluntary dumbness.
2.
In capacity to speak; inability to articulate sounds. This is involuntary dumbness.

Definition 2024


dumbness

dumbness

English

Noun

dumbness (usually uncountable, plural dumbnesses)

  1. The state of being dumb or mute: that is, of not communicating vocally, whether from selective mutism (refusal to speak) or from an inability to speak.
  2. Muteness, silence; abstention from speech.
    • 1611 Shakespeare, William [first known show: 15 May 1611; posthumous publication: 1623], Winter's Tale, Act 5, Scene 2:
      There was speech in their dumbness.
  3. Show or gesture without words; pantomime; dumb-show.
    • 1623 Shakespeare, William [posthumous publication], Timon of Athens, Act 1, Scene 1:
      To the dumbness of the gesture one might interpret.
  4. (informal) The quality of being stupid or foolish.

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