deaf

Etymology

From Middle English deef, from Old English dēaf, from Proto-West Germanic *daub, from Proto-Germanic *daubaz, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ- (“to whisk, smoke, darken, obscure”). Cognate with Ancient Greek τυφλός (tuphlós, “blind”). See also dumb.

adj

1. Unable to hear, or only partially able to hear.
   My brother has been deaf since sustaining injuries in the war.
   It's important for TV shows to provide closed captioning for the deaf.
2. Unwilling to listen or be persuaded; determinedly inattentive; regardless.
   Those people are deaf to reason.
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. (obsolete) Obscurely heard; stifled; deadened.
5. (obsolete, UK, dialect) Decayed; tasteless; dead.
   a deaf nut; deaf corn

noun

1. (nonstandard, rare) A deaf person.
   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
   Two deafs did not always make deaf babies. 2015, Judith Richards, The Sounds of Silence

verb

1. (obsolete, transitive) To deafen.
   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