Dead"en (ded"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deadened (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Deadening.] [From Dead; cf. AS. d&?;dan 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.
© Webster 1913
Dead"en, v. t.
To render impervious to sound, as a wall or floor; to deafen.
© Webster 1913