- Duller
- Dull Dull, a. [Compar. {Duller}; superl. {Dullest}.] [AS. dol
foolish; akin to gedwelan to err, D. dol mad, dwalen to
wander, err, G. toll mad, Goth. dwals foolish, stupid, cf.
Gr. ? turbid, troubled, Skr. dhvr to cause to fall. Cf.
{Dolt}, {Dwale}, {Dwell}, {Fraud}.]
1. Slow of understanding; wanting readiness of apprehension;
stupid; doltish; blockish. ``Dull at classical learning.''
--Thackeray.
[1913 Webster]
She is not bred so dull but she can learn. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. Slow in action; sluggish; unready; awkward. [1913 Webster]
This people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing. --Matt. xiii. 15. [1913 Webster]
O, help my weak wit and sharpen my dull tongue. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
3. Insensible; unfeeling. [1913 Webster]
Think me not So dull a devil to forget the loss Of such a matchless wife. -- Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]
4. Not keen in edge or point; lacking sharpness; blunt. ``Thy scythe is dull.'' --Herbert. [1913 Webster]
5. Not bright or clear to the eye; wanting in liveliness of color or luster; not vivid; obscure; dim; as, a dull fire or lamp; a dull red or yellow; a dull mirror. [1913 Webster]
6. Heavy; gross; cloggy; insensible; spiritless; lifeless; inert. ``The dull earth.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]
As turning the logs will make a dull fire burn, so changes of study a dull brain. -- Longfellow. [1913 Webster]
7. Furnishing little delight, spirit, or variety; uninteresting; tedious; cheerless; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; as, a dull story or sermon; a dull occupation or period; hence, cloudy; overcast; as, a dull day. [1913 Webster]
Along life's dullest, dreariest walk. -- Keble.
Syn: Lifeless; inanimate; dead; stupid; doltish; heavy; sluggish; sleepy; drowsy; gross; cheerless; tedious; irksome; dismal; dreary; clouded; tarnished; obtuse. See {Lifeless}. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
