Deaf Meaning
/dɛf/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjUnable (or partially able) to hear.
adjUnwilling to listen or be persuaded; determinedly inattentive.
Sentence Examples
It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf.
Helen Keller was blind, deaf and dumb.
There are none so deaf as those who won't hear.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The old man, who was completely ____, communicated using sign language.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is ____.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English def, 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. Doublet of daff, dof, and dowf. Cognate with Dutch doof, German taub, Danish and Norwegian Bokmål døv, Norwegian Nynorsk dauv, Swedish döv, Faroese deyvur, Icelandic daufur.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf."
— 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
"Deaf vvith the noyſe I took my haſty flight."
— 1665 (first performance), John Dryden, The Indian Emperour, or, The Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman […], published 1667, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, page 6:
"O, that men's ears should be / To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!"
— c. 1605–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
"The curioſity of the lady was highly inflamed, to know the hiſtory of the parrot's tranſmigration, which ſhe intreated the bird with all her eloquence to relate; but he preſented a deaf ear to her importunity, and, like a painted nightingale, remained ſilent."
— 1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page 12:
"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:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The old man, who was completely ____, communicated using sign language.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is ____.