dumbness

plural dumbnesses · alternative obsolete dumbnesse

1. datedoffensiveuncountableusuallyThe state of being mute: that is, of not communicating vocally, whether from selective mutism (refusal to speak) or from an inability to speak.

   He was a deaf-mute. His dumbness did not seem to matter when we were boys.

   1944, Emily Carr, “Sissy's Job”, in The House of All Sorts

2. dateduncountableusuallyMuteness, silence; abstention from speech.

   There was speech in their dumbness.

   c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]

3. dateduncountableusuallyShow or gesture without words; pantomime; dumb-show.

   To the dumbness of the gesture one might interpret.

   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 i]

4. informaluncountableusuallyThe quality of being stupid or foolish.