deaf
adjectivenounverbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//diːf//
- //dɛf//
- //dɛːf//
Unable (or partially able) to hear.
adjective
- 1
Unable (or partially able) to hear.
My brother has been deaf since sustaining injuries in the war.
It's important for TV shows to provide closed captioning for the deaf.
Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf.
Deaf vvith the noyſe I took my haſty flight.
- 2
Unwilling to listen or be persuaded; determinedly inattentive.
Those people are deaf to reason.
O, that men's ears should be / To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!
The curioſity of the lady was highly inflamed, to know the hiſtory of the parrot's tranſmigration, which ſhe intreated the bird with all her eloquence to relate; but he preſented a deaf ear to her importunity, and, like a painted nightingale, remained ſilent.
- 3
Of or relating to the community of deaf people.
The best place to fight Hollywood deafism is in our deaf schools. If we give our children understanding and appreciation of our rich culture and sign language, the students will gain a deaf heritage and become more creative, more aware, and more assertive global deaf citizens.
- 4
obsoleteObscurely heard; stifled; deadened.
A deaf murmur through the squadron went.
- 5
obsoleteDecayed; tasteless; useless.
a deaf nut; deaf corn
If the season be unkindly and intemperate, they [peppers] will catch a blast; and then the seeds will be deafe, void, light, and naught.
Etymology
From Middle English def, deef, from Old English dēaf, from Proto-West Germanic *daub (“deaf”), from Proto-Germanic *daubaz (“deaf or stunned”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ- (“to whisk, smoke, darken, obscure”). Cognate with Ancient Greek τυφλός (tuphlós, “blind”). See also dumb. Doublet of daff, dof, and dowf. Cognate with Dutch doof, German taub, Danish and Norwegian Bokmål døv, Norwegian Nynorsk dauv, Swedish döv, Faroese deyvur, Icelandic daufur.
noun
- 1
rareA deaf person.
Among the second group of philanthropic educational institutions the institutes for the deafs and dumbs must be mentioned.
Negotiations for South Vietnam's political future and the enforcement of cease-fire between two sides progressed like a conversation between two deafs.
"I work with the blind mostly. Some deafs too," I told her.
Two deafs did not always make deaf babies.
verb
- 1
obsoleteTo deafen.
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.
Svvift as a VVhirl-vvind to the Nurſe he flyes; / And deafs his ſtormy Subjects vvith his cries.
Forms
- plural
- deafs
- comparative
- deafer
- superlative
- deafest
- past tense
- deafed
- past participle
- deafed
- present participle
- deafing
- third person singular
- deafs