deaf

comparative deafer · superlative deafest

1. Unable (or partially able) to hear.

   My brother has been deaf since sustaining injuries in the war.

   3 more examples

   It's important for TV shows to provide closed captioning for the deaf.

   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]

   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

2. Unwilling to listen or be persuaded; determinedly inattentive.

   Those people are deaf to reason.

   2 more examples

   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]

   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

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.

   1994, Bruce N. Snider, Carol Erting, Robert C. Johnson, The Deaf Way, page 734

4. obsoleteObscurely 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

5. UKdialectalobsoleteDecayed; tasteless; useless.

   a deaf nut; deaf corn

   1 more example

   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

plural deafs

1. nonstandardrareA deaf person.

   Two deafs did not always make deaf babies.

   2015, Judith Richards, The Sounds of Silence, →ISBN

   3 more examples

   Among the second group of philanthropic educational institutions the institutes for the deafs and dumbs must be mentioned.

   1897, József Jekelfalussy, The Millennium of Hungary and Its People, page 347

   Negotiations for South Vietnam's political future and the enforcement of cease-fire between two sides progressed like a conversation between two deafs.

   1980, Cao Van Vien, Van Khuyen Dong, Reflections on the Vietnam War

   "I work with the blind mostly. Some deafs too," I told her.

   2014, Chelsea Handler, My Horizontal Life, →ISBN

present singular third person deafs · participle present deafing · participle past deafed · past deafed

1. obsoletetransitiveTo deafen.

   Svvift as a VVhirl-vvind to the Nurſe he flyes; / And deafs his ſtormy Subjects vvith his cries.

   1680, John Dryden, “Canace to Macareus”, in Ovid, Ovid’s Epistles, […], London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC, page 13

   2 more examples

   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.

   1634, John Fletcher, William Shakespeare, Two Noble Kinsmen

   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?

   1871, Charlse Hindlley, A Kicksey Winsey: Or a Lerry Come-Twang

1. not comparableOf or relating to the culture surrounding deaf users of sign languages.

   There are Deaf clubs in many cities, but the clubs are just a part of the larger community of Deaf people.

   2006, David Alan Stewart, Elizabeth Stewart, American Sign Language the Easy Way, Barron's Educational Series, →ISBN, page 101

   1 more example

   Today, sign languages are the means of communication and interaction in Deaf communities around the world and have been shown to contain all the linguistic complexities and potentials of spoken languages (Stokoe, 1960/2005).

   2005, Patricia Elizabeth Spencer, Marc Marschark, Advances in the Spoken Language Development of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 3