deaden

Verb
Synonyms: dampendampgirdleblunt

WordNet 3.0

Verb (7)

  1. make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible“muffle the message”Synonyms: dampendamp
  2. cut a girdle around so as to kill by interrupting the circulation of water and nutrients“girdle the plant”Synonyms: girdle
  3. make vapid or deprive of spirit“deadened wine”
  4. lessen the momentum or velocity of“deaden a ship's headway”
  5. become lifeless, less lively, intense, or active; lose life, force, or vigor
  6. make less lively, intense, or vigorous; impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation“Terror blunted her feelings”“deaden a sound”Synonyms: blunt
  7. convert (metallic mercury) into a grey powder consisting of minute globules, as by shaking with chalk or fatty oil
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Deaden \Dead"en\ (d[e^]d"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deadened (d[e^]d"'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Deadening.] [From Dead; cf. AS. d?dan to kill, put to death. See Dead, a.]

1.To make as dead; to impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation; to lessen the force or acuteness of; to blunt; as, to deaden the natural powers or feelings; to deaden a sound. [1913 Webster]

As harper lays his open palm Upon his harp, to deaden its vibrations.— Longfellow.[1913 Webster]

2.To lessen the velocity or momentum of; to retard; as, to deaden a ship's headway. [1913 Webster]

3.To make vapid or spiritless; as, to deaden wine. [1913 Webster]

4.To deprive of gloss or brilliancy; to obscure; as, to deaden gilding by a coat of size. [1913 Webster]

5.To render impervious to sound, as a wall or floor; to deafen. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

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