deaden

Synonyms

Antonyms

Dead"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deadened; p. pr. & vb. n. Deadening.] Etym: [From Dead; cf. AS. d 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. As harper lays his open palm Upon his harp, to deaden its vibrations. Longfellow. 2. To lessen the velocity or momentum of; to retard; as, to deaden a ship's headway. 3. To make vapid or spiritless; as, to deaden wine. 4. To deprive of gloss or brilliancy; to obscure; as, to deaden gilding by a coat of size.