from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Deaden \Dead"en\ (d[e^]d"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Deadened}
(d[e^]d"'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.
[1913 Webster]
As harper lays his open palm
Upon his harp, to deaden its vibrations.
--Longfellow.
[1913 Webster]
2. To lessen the velocity or momentum of; to retard; as, to
deaden a ship's headway.
[1913 Webster]
3. To make vapid or spiritless; as, to deaden wine.
[1913 Webster]
4. To deprive of gloss or brilliancy; to obscure; as, to
deaden gilding by a coat of size.
[1913 Webster]
5. To render impervious to sound, as a wall or floor; to
deafen.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]