deafen — 1590s, to make deaf, from DEAF (Cf. deaf) + EN (Cf. en) (1). The earlier verb was simply deaf (mid 15c.). For to become deaf, to grow deaf, O.E. had adeafian (intrans.), which survived into M.E. as deave but then took on a transitive sense from… … Etymology dictionary
deafen — ► VERB 1) cause to become deaf. 2) (deafening) extremely loud. DERIVATIVES deafeningly adverb … English terms dictionary
deafen — [def′ən] vt. 1. to make deaf 2. to overwhelm with noise 3. Archaic to drown out (a sound) with a louder sound deafening adj., n. deafeningly adv … English World dictionary
deafen — UK [ˈdef(ə)n] / US verb [transitive] Word forms deafen : present tense I/you/we/they deafen he/she/it deafens present participle deafening past tense deafened past participle deafened 1) if a noise deafens you, you cannot hear anything else… … English dictionary
deafen — verb make deaf. ↘[as adjective deafening] extremely loud. ↘(deafen someone to) (of a sound) make someone unaware of (other sounds). Derivatives deafeningly adverb … English new terms dictionary
deafen someone to — (of a sound) make someone unaware of (other sounds). → deafen … English new terms dictionary
deafen — transitive verb (deafened; deafening) Date: 1597 to make deaf < was deafened by the explosion > … New Collegiate Dictionary
deafen — deafeningly, adv. /def euhn/, v.t. 1. to make deaf: The accident deafened him for life. 2. to stun or overwhelm with noise: The pounding of the machines deafened us. 3. deaden (def. 3). 4. Obs. to render (a sound) inaudible, esp. by a louder… … Universalium
deafen — verb a) To make deaf, either temporarily or permanently b) To make soundproof … Wiktionary
deafen — deaf·en def ən vb, deaf·ened; deaf·en·ing (ə )niŋ vt to make deaf vi to cause deafness or stun one with noise deaf·en·ing·ly (ə )niŋ lē adv … Medical dictionary
