deaf en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /dɛːf/ (Early, Modern)
- /dɛf/
- dĕf
- /diːf/ (England, US, archaic, dialectal)
- dēf
- (US) audio
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.
Meanings
-
Unable (or partially able) to hear.
Deaf vvith the noyſe I took my haſty flight.
1665 (first performance), John Dryden, The Indian Emperour, or, The Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman […], published 1667, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, page 6:My brother has been deaf since sustaining injuries in the war.
Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf.
1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:It's important for TV shows to provide closed captioning for the deaf.
-
Unwilling to listen or be persuaded; determinedly inattentive.
Those people are deaf to reason.
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.
1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page 12:O, that men's ears should be / To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!
c. 1605–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
-
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.
1994, Bruce N. Snider, Carol Erting, Robert C. Johnson, The Deaf Way, page 734:
-
(obsolete) Obscurely heard; stifled; deadened.
A deaf murmur through the squadron went.
1717, John Dryden [et al.], “(please specify |book=I to XV)”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
-
(UK, dialectal, obsolete) Decayed; 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.
1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “(please specify |book=I to XXXVII)”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], (please specify |tome=1 or 2), London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| deafer | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| deafest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
tone-deaf · beat-deaf · inattentionally deaf · nose deaf · cock a deaf 'un · semideaf · dip hop · deaf-and-dumb alphabet · deaf and dumb · deaf waddler · deafen · Deaf Smith County · deaf as a post · Deaflympics · stone deaf · deafblind · deaf-muteness · stone-deaf · preach to deaf ears · deaf as a doorknob · deafism · deaf-blind · fall on deaf ears · deafo · deaf as a doorpost · turn a deaf ear · deaf-mute · deaf as a doornail · deafish · deafie · are you deaf · Deaf · deaf-blindness · deaf adder · Deaflympic · undeaf · deafly · Deaflympian · nondeaf · I'm deaf · deaf aid · deafness
Relateds
Synonyms
hearing-impaired · hard of hearing
Translations (242)
la surdus (unable to hear) · pt surdos (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · ar أَصَمّ (unable to hear) · chr ᏧᎵᎡᎾ (unable to hear) · de taub (unable to hear) · mn дүлий (unable to hear) · ja 聾者 (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · th หูหนวก (unable to hear) · crh sağır (unable to hear) · lb daf (unable to hear) · jje 귀막다 (unable to hear) · ar أَطْرَش (unable to hear) · te చెవిటి (unable to hear) · gd bodhar (unable to hear) · fr les sourds (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · sh gluhi (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · arz أطرش (unable to hear) · cy byddar (unable to hear) · nl doof (unable to hear) · izh gluuhkoi (unable to hear) · nl doven (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · bfi H@Ear (unable to hear) · de gehörlos (unable to hear) · kbd дэгу (unable to hear) · nl dove (unable to hear) · ckb کەڕ (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · yi טויב (unable to hear) · ga bodhar (unable to hear) · de die Tauben (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · sk hluchý (unable to hear) · ms tuli (unable to hear) · sv döva (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · ase 1@Jaw 1@Chin (unable to hear) · pt mouco (unable to hear) · or ବଧିର (unable to hear) · av гӏинкъаб (unable to hear) · fo deyvur (unable to hear) · yo dití (unable to hear) · vo surdik (unable to hear) · hrx daab (unable to hear) · bo འོན་པ (unable to hear) · mfe sourd (unable to hear) · mi pihoi (unwilling to listen) · ko 농인 (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · uk глухи́й (unable to hear) · msk bungul (unable to hear) · nan-hbl 耳聾 /耳聋 (unable to hear) · lld sëurt (unable to hear) · is heyrnarlaus (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · cmn 聾 /聋 (unable to hear) · iba achak (unable to hear) · be глухі́ (unable to hear) · lt kurčias (unable to hear) · mui peka' (unable to hear) · pt surdo (unable to hear) · enm def (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · xmf ჸუნგა (unable to hear) · pdt doof (unable to hear) · ota صاغر (unable to hear) · ko 귀먹다 (unable to hear) · az kar (unable to hear) · mr बधीर (unable to hear) · fi kuuro (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · sl gluhi (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · el κουφός (unable to hear) · mr बहिरा (unable to hear) · lv kurls (unable to hear) · yi טויבלעך (unable to hear) · ban bongol (unable to hear) · an xordo (unable to hear) · ru глухо́й (unable to hear) · dsb głuchy (unable to hear) · tli lkhool.áxhji (unable to hear) · tg кар (unable to hear) · si බිහිරි (unable to hear) · el κωφός (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · ca els sords (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · got 𐌱𐌰𐌿𐌸𐍃 (unable to hear) · ba һаңғырау (unable to hear) · ce къора (unable to hear) · sga bodar (unable to hear) · sl gluh (unable to hear) · ro surd (unable to hear) · sh gluv (unable to hear) · kw bodhar (unable to hear) · fi kuuro (unable to hear) · ckb کەڕ (unable to hear) · grc κωφός (unable to hear) · nds dow (unable to hear) · mi pūwharawhara (unable to hear) · ks زۆر (unable to hear) · co sordu (unable to hear) · cmn 耳聾 /耳聋 (unable to hear) · xmf დაგუ̂ა (unable to hear) · lv nedzirdīgs (unable to hear) · kk саңырау (unable to hear) · pl głuchy (unable to hear) · ps کوڼ (unable to hear) · ja 耳の聞こえない (unable to hear) · ms pekak (unable to hear) · hu (PC) siket (unable to hear) · jv budheg (unable to hear) · se bealjeheapmi (unable to hear) · nn dauv (unable to hear) · as অন্ধ (unable to hear) · et kurt (unable to hear) · eo surda (unable to hear) · he חֵירֵשׁ (unable to hear) · ccc majchayi (unable to hear) · ka სმენადაკარგული (unable to hear) · mrw bengel (unable to hear) · xag 𐕆𐔼𐕒𐔽𐔰 (unable to hear) · akl bungoe (unable to hear) · sh глув (unable to hear) · fy dôf (unable to hear) · tl bingi (unable to hear) · fr sourd (unable to hear) · sv döv (unable to hear) · yue 耳聾 /耳聋 (unable to hear) · it i sordi (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · haw kuli (unable to hear) · enm def (unable to hear) · te బధిరులు (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · ja 耳が不自由 (unable to hear) · mt trux (unable to hear) · km ថ្លង់ (unable to hear) · nv ajéékałgo ąąh dahazʼą́ (unable to hear) · ur بہرا (unable to hear) · as কলা (unable to hear) · rup surdu (unable to hear) · br bouzar (unable to hear) · ady дэгу (unable to hear) · nay plombatji (unable to hear) · mel tulek (unable to hear) · mk глув (unable to hear) · es sordo (unable to hear) · gl xordo (unable to hear) · xmf ჸურუ (unable to hear) · it sordo (unable to hear) · su torék (unable to hear) · jv jampeng (unable to hear) · id tuna rungu (unable to hear) · ar اَلصُّمّ (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · bg глух (unable to hear) · sco deif (unable to hear) · mel pakeak (unable to hear) · bcl bungog (unable to hear) · ms tunakerna (unable to hear) · te చెవిటివాళ్ళు (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · mba bungol (unable to hear) · lo ຫູໜວກ (unable to hear) · udm пельтэм (unable to hear) · kmr kerr (unable to hear) · ltg kūrslys (unable to hear) · ast sordu (unable to hear) · ka ყრუ (unable to hear) · min pakak (unable to hear) · frr duuf (unable to hear) · oc sord (unable to hear) · yai кар (unable to hear) · ceb bungol (unable to hear) · ja 聴覚障害者 (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · nv jééhkał (unable to hear) · uby дагәы (unable to hear) · he חירשים (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · kjj баьш (unable to hear) · el κωφός (unable to hear) · enm def (unwilling to listen) · rop debala (unable to hear) · mrw biso (unable to hear) · om duudaa (unable to hear) · dlm suard (unable to hear) · lad sodro (unable to hear) · cy byddair (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · ms congek (unable to hear) · sne bongam (unable to hear) · vec sórdo (unable to hear) · ht soud (unable to hear) · id tuli (unable to hear) · vi điếc (unable to hear) · sw viziwi (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · mnc ᡩᡠᡨᡠ (unable to hear) · ang dēaf (unable to hear) · sc surdu (unable to hear) · tr sağırlar (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · tly kor (unable to hear) · arz أصم (unable to hear) · eu gor (unable to hear) · hu süket (unable to hear) · nn døv (unable to hear) · yue 聾 /聋 (unable to hear) · hi बहरा (unable to hear) · ab адагәа (unable to hear) · nb døv (unable to hear) · mui tulo' (unable to hear) · hi बधिर (unable to hear) · yi חושימדיק (unable to hear) · esu niitesciigatelria (unable to hear) · sh gluhe (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · ist surdo (unable to hear) · sk nepočujúci (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · pl głusi (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · gl mouco (unable to hear) · sva ყუ̂რიუ̂ (unable to hear) · sq i shurdhër (unable to hear) · sms kluuǥǥai (unable to hear) · fa ناشنوا (unable to hear) · xmf ჸუჯა (unable to hear) · af dowe (unable to hear) · sva ყუგ (unable to hear) · ca sord (unable to hear) · sa बधिर (unable to hear) · sh gluh (unable to hear) · pse pekak (unable to hear) · mi turi (unable to hear) · fi kuulovammainen (unable to hear) · cy byddar (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · fur sord (unable to hear) · it i non udenti (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · de die Gehörlosen (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · ast xordu (unable to hear) · mnc ᠮᠠᡳᡤᡠ (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · fa کر (unable to hear) · kaw buḍĕg (unable to hear) · es sordos (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · ru глухие (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · fur sort (unable to hear) · ps کوڼ (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · da døv (unable to hear) · asf 1@Ear 1@Mouth (unable to hear) · my နားပင်း (unable to hear) · sc suldu (unable to hear) · hy խուլ (unable to hear) · sh глух (unable to hear) · is daufur (unable to hear) · cs hluchý (unable to hear) · es sordas (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · tr sağır (unable to hear) · ja 聾 (unable to hear, used as a substantive: deaf people considered as a group) · sa कल्ल (unable to hear) · lez биши (unable to hear) · kmr guhgiran (unable to hear)