dumbness
English
Etymology
From Middle English dombenesse, from Old English dumbnes; equivalent to dumb + -ness.
Noun
dumbness (usually uncountable, plural dumbnesses)
- 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.
- 1944, Emily Carr, The House of All Sorts, "Sissy's Job,"
- He was a deaf-mute. His dumbness did not seem to matter when we were boys.
- 1944, Emily Carr, The House of All Sorts, "Sissy's Job,"
- 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.
- 1611 Shakespeare, William [first known show: 15 May 1611; posthumous publication: 1623], Winter's Tale, Act 5, Scene 2:
- 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.
- 1623 Shakespeare, William [posthumous publication], Timon of Athens, Act 1, Scene 1:
- (informal) The quality of being stupid or foolish.
Translations
the state of being dumb
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