dumbly

dumbly
dumb ► ADJECTIVE 1) unable to speak; lacking the power of speech. 2) temporarily unable or unwilling to speak. 3) informal, chiefly N. Amer. stupid. 4) (of a computer terminal) having no independent processing capability.
► VERB 1) (dumb down) N. Amer. informal make or become less intellectually challenging. 2) literary silence.
DERIVATIVES dumbly adverb dumbness noun.
USAGE Avoid dumb in the sense meaning ‘not able to speak’, as it likely to cause offence; use alternatives such as speech-impaired.
ORIGIN Old English.

English terms dictionary. 2015.

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  • Dumbly — Dumb ly, adv. In silence; mutely. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • dumbly — adverb see dumb I …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • dumbly — See dumb. * * * …   Universalium

  • dumbly — adverb in a dumb (meaning silent) manner; mutely or silently …   Wiktionary

  • dumbly — adv. mutely, speechlessly, silently …   English contemporary dictionary

  • dumbly — dumb·ly …   English syllables

  • dumbly — See: dumb …   English dictionary

  • Tug Dumbly — is an Australian poet satirist and musician who released the albums Junk Culture Lullabys in 2001 and Idiom Savant in 2003. He first rose to prominence as a regular guest on the national radio station Triple J.Tug Dumbly is a… …   Wikipedia

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