deaf

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See also: Deaf

English

Etymology

From Middle English deef, from Old English dēaf, from Proto-Germanic *daubaz, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ- (“to whisk, smoke, darken, obscure”). Cognate with Ancient Greek τυφλός (tuphlós, “blind”). See also dumb.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /dɛf/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "dated" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /diːf/
  • Rhymes: -ɛf
  • Homophones: Deaf, def

Adjective

deaf (comparative deafer, superlative deafest)

  1. Unable to hear, or only partially able to hear.
    • (Can we date this quote by Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf.
    • (Can we date this quote by Dryden and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      Deaf with the noise, I took my hasty flight.
  2. Unwilling to listen or be persuaded; determinedly inattentive; regardless.
    Those people are deaf to reason.
    • (Can we date this quote by Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      O, that men's ears should be / To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!
  3. Obscurely heard; stifled; deadened.
    • (Can we date this quote by Dryden and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      A deaf murmur through the squadron went.
  4. (obsolete, UK, dialect) Decayed; tasteless; dead.
    a deaf nut; deaf corn
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Halliwell to this entry?)
    • (Can we date this quote by Holland and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      If the season be unkindly and intemperate, they [peppers] will catch a blast; and then the seeds will be deaf, void, light, and naught.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Noun

Template:en-plural noun

  1. (with "the") Those who are deaf, taken as a group.

Translations

Noun

deaf (plural deafs)

  1. (nonstandard, rare) A deaf person.
    • 1897, József Jekelfalussy, The Millennium of Hungary and Its People‎[1], page 347:
      Among the second group of philanthropic educational institutions the institutes for the deafs and dumbs must be mentioned.
    • 1980, Cao Van Vien, Van Khuyen Dong, Reflections on the Vietnam War‎[2]:
      Negotiations for South Vietnam's political future and the enforcement of cease-fire between two sides progressed like a conversation between two deafs.
    • 2014, Chelsea Handler, My Horizontal Life‎[3], →ISBN:
      "I work with the blind mostly. Some deafs too," I told her.
    • 2015, Judith Richards, The Sounds of Silence‎[4], →ISBN:
      Two deafs did not always make deaf babies.

Usage notes

Used primarily within the deaf community.

Translations

a single deaf person — see deaf person

Verb

deaf (third-person singular simple present deafs, present participle deafing, simple past and past participle deafed)

  1. (obsolete, transitive) To deafen.
    • 1634, John Fletcher & William Shakespeare, Two Noble Kinsmen:
      It is enough, my hearing shall be punish'd With what shall happen, -- 'gainst the which there is No deafing -- but to hear, not taint mine eye With dread sights that it may shun.
    • 1871, ‎Charlse Hindlley, A Kicksey Winsey: Or a Lerry Come-Twang:
      Shall we, I say, that have been so long civil and wealthy in peace, famous and invincible in war, fortunate in both, we that have been ever able to aid any of our neighbours (but never deafed any of their ears with any of our supplications for assistance) shall we, I say, without blushing, abase ourselves so far, as to imitate these beastly Indians, slaves to the Spaniards, refuse to the world, and as yet aliens from the holy covenant of God?
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Dryden to this entry?)

See also

Anagrams

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *daubaz, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ- (“smoky, foggy, dim”). Germanic cognates include Old Frisian dāf, Old Saxon dōf (Low German dow), Old High German toub (German taub), Old Norse daufr (Swedish döv). The Indo-European root is also the source of Greek τυφλός (tyflós, “blind”).

Pronunciation

Adjective

dēaf

  1. deaf

Declension

Declension of dēaf — Strong
Singular Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative dēaf dēaf dēaf
Accusative dēafne dēafe dēaf
Genitive dēafes dēafre dēafes
Dative dēafum dēafre dēafum
Instrumental dēafe dēafre dēafe
Plural Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative dēafe dēafa, dēafe dēaf
Accusative dēafe dēafa, dēafe dēaf
Genitive dēafra dēafra dēafra
Dative dēafum dēafum dēafum
Instrumental dēafum dēafum dēafum
Declension of dēaf — Weak
Singular Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative dēafa dēafe dēafe
Accusative dēafan dēafan dēafe
Genitive dēafan dēafan dēafan
Dative dēafan dēafan dēafan
Instrumental dēafan dēafan dēafan
Plural Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative dēafan dēafan dēafan
Accusative dēafan dēafan dēafan
Genitive dēafra, dēafena dēafra, dēafena dēafra, dēafena
Dative dēafum dēafum dēafum
Instrumental dēafum dēafum dēafum

Descendants

  • Middle English: deef, def
    • English: deaf
    • Scots: deef, deif, deaf
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