deaf and dumb

deaf and dumb \deaf and dumb\, deaf-and-dumb \deaf-and-dumb\adj.
   both deaf and unable to speak; without the sense of hearing
   or the faculty of speech. Same as {Deaf-mute}.
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Dumb \Dumb\, a. [AS. dumb; akin to D. dom stupid, dumb, Sw.
   dumb, Goth. dumbs; cf. Gr. ? blind. See {Deaf}, and cf.
   {Dummy}.]
   1. Destitute of the power of speech; unable; to utter
      articulate sounds; as, the dumb brutes.
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            To unloose the very tongues even of dumb creatures.
                                                  --Hooker.
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   2. Not willing to speak; mute; silent; not speaking; not
      accompanied by words; as, dumb show.
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            This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him. --Shak.
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            To pierce into the dumb past.         -- J. C.
                                                  Shairp.
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   3. Lacking brightness or clearness, as a color. [R.]
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            Her stern was painted of a dumb white or dun color.
                                                  --De Foe.
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   {Deaf and dumb}. See {Deaf-mute}.

   {Dumb ague}, or {Dumb chill}, a form of intermittent fever
      which has no well-defined "chill." [U.S.]

   {Dumb animal}, any animal except man; -- usually restricted
      to a domestic quadruped; -- so called in contradistinction
      to man, who is a "speaking animal."

   {Dumb cake}, a cake made in silence by girls on St. Mark's
      eve, with certain mystic ceremonies, to discover their
      future husbands. --Halliwell.

   {Dumb cane} (Bot.), a west Indian plant of the Arum family
      ({Dieffenbachia seguina}), which, when chewed, causes the
      tongue to swell, and destroys temporarily the power of
      speech.

   {Dumb crambo}. See under {crambo}.

   {Dumb show}.
      (a) Formerly, a part of a dramatic representation, shown
          in pantomime. "Inexplicable dumb shows and noise."
          --Shak.
      (b) Signs and gestures without words; as, to tell a story
          in dumb show.

   {To strike dumb}, to confound; to astonish; to render silent
      by astonishment; or, it may be, to deprive of the power of
      speech.

   Syn: Silent; speechless; noiseless. See {Mute}.
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DEAF AND DUMB. No definition is requisite, as the words are sufficiently 
known. A person deaf and dumb is doli capax but with such persons who have 
not been educated, and who cannot communicate, their ideas in writing, a 
difficulty sometimes arises on the trial. 
     2. A case occurred of a woman, deaf and dumb, who was charged with a 
crime. She was brought to the bar, and the indictment was then read to her, 
and the question, in the usual form, was put, guilty or not guilty ? The 
counsel for the prisoner then rose, and stated that he could not allow his 
client to plead to the indictment, until it was explained to her that she 
was at liberty to plead guilty or not guilty. This attempted to be done, but 
was found impossible, and she was discharged from the bar "simpliciter." 
     3. A person, deaf and dumb, may be examined as a witness, provided he 
can be sworn, that is, if he is capable of understanding the terms of the 
oath, and assents to it and if, after he is sworn, he can convey his ideas, 
with or without an interpreter, to the court and jury. Phil., Ev. 14.