dulladj.
/dʌl/, U.S. /dəl/ 1. Not quick in intelligence or mental perception; slow of understanding; not sharp of wit; obtuse, stupid, inapprehensive. In early use, sometimes: Wanting wit, fatuous, foolish.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupidity, dullness of intellect > [adjective]
sloweOE
stuntc960
dullOE
hardOE
stuntlyc1000
sotc1050
dillc1175
dulta1225
simplea1325
heavy1340
astonedc1374
sheepishc1380
dull-witteda1387
lourd1390
steerishc1411
ass-likea1425
brainless?a1439
deafc1440
sluggishc1450
short-witted1477
obtuse1509
peakish1519
wearish1519
deaf, or dumb as a beetle1520
doileda1522
gross1526
headlessa1530
stulty1532
ass-headed1533
pot-headed1533
stupid?1541
sheep's head1542
doltish1543
dumpish1545
assish1548
blockish1548
slow-witted1548
blockheaded1549
surd1551
dull-headed1552
hammer-headed1552
skit-brained?1553
buzzardly1561
witless1562
log-headeda1566
assy1566
sottish1566
dastardly1567
stupidious1567
beetle-headed1570
calvish1570
bluntish1578
cod's-headed1578
grout-headed1578
bedaft1579
dull-pated1580
blate1581
buzzard-like1581
long-eared1582
dullard1583
woodena1586
duncical1588
leaden-headed1589
buzzard1592
dorbellical1592
dunstical1592
heavy-headeda1593
shallow-brained1592
blunt-witted1594
mossy1597
Bœotian1598
clay-brained1598
fat1598
fat-witted1598
knotty-pated1598
stupidous1598
wit-lost1599
barren1600
duncifiedc1600
lourdish1600
stockish1600
thick1600
booby1603
leaden-pated1603
partless1603
thin-headed1603
leaden-skulledc1604
blockhead1606
frost-brained1606
ram-headed1608
beef-witted1609
insulse1609
leaden-spirited1609
asininec1610
clumse1611
blockheadly1612
wattle-headed1613
flata1616
logger-headeda1616
puppy-headeda1616
shallow-patedc1616
thick-brained1619
half-headed1621
buzzard-blinda1625
beef-brained1628
toom-headed1629
thick-witted1634
woollen-witted1635
squirrel-headed1637
clod-pated1639
lean-souled1639
muddy-headed1642
leaden-witteda1645
as sad as any mallet1645
under-headed1646
fat-headed1647
half-witted1647
insipid1651
insulsate1652
soft-headed1653
thick-skulleda1657
muddish1658
non-intelligent1659
whey-brained1660
sap-headed1665
timber-headed1666
leather-headeda1668
out of (one's) tree1669
boobily1673
thoughtless1673
lourdly1674
logger1675
unintelligenta1676
Bœotic1678
chicken-brained1678
under-witted1683
loggerhead1684
dunderheaded1692
unintelligible1694
buffle-headed1697
crassicc1700
numbskulled1707
crassous1708
doddy-polled1708
haggis-headed1715
niddy-noddy1722
muzzy1723
pudding-headed1726
sumphish1728
pitcher-souleda1739
duncey1743
hebete1743
chuckheaded1756
dumb1756
duncely1757
imbecile1766
mutton-headed1768
chuckle-headed1770
jobbernowl1770
dowfarta1774
boobyish1778
wittol1780
staumrel1787
opaquec1789
stoopid1791
mud-headed1793
borné1795
muzzy-headed1798
nog-headed1800
thick-headed1801
gypit1804
duncish1805
lightweight1809
numbskull1814
tup-headed1816
chuckle-pate1820
unintellectuala1821
dense1822
ninnyish1822
dunch1825
fozy1825
potato-headed1826
beef-headed1828
donkeyish1831
blockheadish1833
pinheaded1837
squirrel-minded1837
pumpkin-headed1838
tomfoolish1838
dundering1840
chicken-headed1842
like a bump on a log1842
ninny-minded1849
numbheadeda1852
nincompoopish1852
suet-brained1852
dolly1853
mullet-headed1853
sodden1853
fiddle-headed1854
numb1854
bovine1855
logy1859
crass1861
unsmart1861
off his chump1864
wooden-headed1865
stupe1866
lean-minded1867
duffing1869
cretinous1871
doddering1871
thick-head1873
doddling1874
stupido1879
boneheaded1883
woolly-headed1883
leaden-natured1889
suet-headed1890
sam-sodden1891
dopey1896
turnip-headed1898
bonehead1903
wool-witted1905
peanut-headed1906
peanut-brained1907
dilly1909
torpid-minded1909
retardate1912
nitwitted1917
meat-headed1918
mug1922
cloth-headed1925
loopy1925
nitwit1928
lame-brained1929
dead from the neck up1930
simpy1932
nail-headed1936
square-headed1936
dingbats1937
pinhead1939
dim-witted1940
pea-brained1942
clueless1943
lobotomized1943
retarded1949
pointy-headed1950
clottish1952
like a stunned mullet1953
silly (or crazy) as a two-bob watch1954
out to lunch1955
pin-brained1958
dozy1959
eejity1964
out of one's tiny mind1965
doofus1967
twitty1967
twittish1969
twatty1975
twattish1976
blur1977
dof1979
goofus1981
dickheaded1991
dickish1991
numpty1992
cockish1996
OE Seafarer 106 Dol biþ se þe him his dryhten ne ondrædeþ; cymeð him se deað unþinged.
c975 Rushw. Gosp. Matt. v. 22 Seðe þanne cwæþe dysig vel dole [L. fatue; Ags. G. þu stunta] he biþ scyldig helle fyres.]
OE Riddle 11 3 Ic dysge dwelle ond dole hwette unrædsiþas, oþrum styre nyttre fore.
a1250 Leg. Kath. 1268 Wacre þen eni wake! of deað & of dul [earlier MSS. dult] wit!
c1340 R. Rolle Prose Treat. (1866) 40 If thi herte be dulle and myrke and felis noþer witt ne sauour ne deuocyone for to thynke.
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. i. 129 ‘Þou dotest daffe’ quaþ heo ‘Dulle are þi wittes’.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. i. 1093 Þe oxe is slowe and stable, and þe asse dulle of witte.
1413 Pilgr. Sowle (1483) iv. xxiv. 70 She fond the soo dulle and soo lothe to hir wordes.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. Prol. f. ii To my dull wytte it is nat atteynaunt.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Hippocrates in Panoplie Epist. 269 The blunt and dull capacities of them that give judgement.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxv. 135 Feare of appearing duller in apprehension.
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding ii. i. 39 I confess my self, to have one of those dull Souls, that doth not perceive it self always to contemplate its Ideas.
1751 J. Jortin Serm. (1771) VI. ii. 32 The Israelites were a dull and a carnal people.
1833 H. Martineau Briery Creek i. 8 He was rather a dull child—usually called uncommonly stupid.
2.
a. Wanting sensibility or keenness of perception in the bodily senses and feelings; insensible, obtuse, senseless, inanimate. In dialect use, esp. Hard of hearing, deaf.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > physical insensibility > dullness of sense perception > [adjective]
bluntc1175
murkc1390
dulla1400
dulledc1480
thick1526
indistincta1530
dullen1602
unsharpened1620
obtundeda1644
muggy1824
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) 3564 His body waxeþ drye & dulle [Gött. dall].
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 142 And he that dronis ay as ane bee Sowld haif ane heirar dull as stane.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Matt. xiii. f. xviij Their eares were dull of herynge.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. x.sig. I7v She..opened his dull eyes, that light mote in them shine.
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. ii. 434 And when I am forgotten..And sleepe in dull cold Marble. View more context for this quotation
a1791 F. Grose Olio (1796) 115 By dull I only mean hard of hearing.
1830 Ld. Tennyson Poet's Mind 35 You never would hear it; your ears are so dull.
1878 J. P. Hopps Life Jesus iv. 18 The light came again into the poor dull eyes.
b. Of pain or other sensation: Not keen or intense; slightly or indistinctly felt.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > pain > types of pain > [adjective] > aching
workingOE
warkingc1340
dull1725
nagging1836
dead1863
achy1864
1725 N. Robinson New Theory of Physick 165 A heavy, dull Pain generally affects the Patient, either on the Right or Left Side.
1897 N.E.D. at Dull Mod. A sharp pain, followed by a dull ache.
3.
a. Slow in motion or action; not brisk; inert, sluggish, inactive; heavy, drowsy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > [adjective] > sluggish or heavy
slowOE
sluggy?c1225
dull1393
slowfulc1400
sluggedc1430
sluggingc1430
slugc1440
sluggishc1450
lithera1500
peakish1519
lumpish1528
sopit1528
loiterous1566
slugring1566
drowsy1570
slow-bellied1576
snailish1581
blate1597
druggly1611
jacent1611
clammy1622
loggish1642
ignave1657
sliving1661
druggle-headed1694
slow-coachish1844
loggy1847
logy1859
tardigradous1866
tardigrade1883
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 6 My limmes ben so dull, I may unethes gon the pas.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 311/1 Dull at the spurre as a horse is, restif.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. vii. sig. F7 Thenceforth her waters wexed dull and slow.
a1661 J. Glanville Voy. Cadiz (1883) 56 I gott a dull and ill paced horse.
1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. ii. i. 20 Our Ketch, even when light, was but a dull Sailer.
a1790 B. Franklin Autobiogr. (1981) iii. 163 When we came to Sea, she proved the dullest of 96 Sail.
1849 E. E. Napier Excursions Southern Afr. II. 9 The long whips could not urge the dull, lean teams into a quicker pace.
1869 W. C. Hazlitt Eng. Prov. & Phr. 49 All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
b. Of trade: Sluggish, stagnant; the opposite of brisk. Hence transferred of goods or merchandise: Not much in demand, not easily saleable.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > [adjective] > good or bad (of trade)
well-traded1609
sulke1636
quicka1687
dull1705
brisk1719
roaring1731
rousing1767
slow1823
briskish1864
upwith1864
excited1878
turnaway1943
1705 tr. W. Bosman New Descr. Coast of Guinea vi. 73 Trade being extremely dull at that time.
1729 B. Franklin Modest Enq. 32 If raising Wheat proves dull, more may..proceed to the raising and manufacturing of Hemp, Silk, Iron.
1797 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) IV. 182 Flour is dull at $7·50.
1863 H. Fawcett Man. Polit. Econ. i. iv. 43 Dull trade is always prejudicial to them.
1892 E. Reeves Homeward Bound 205 This being the dull season, we arranged terms at about half price.
1895 Times 17 Jan. 4/1 In the Market..Consols opened dull at 104½.
4. Of persons, or their mood: Having the natural vivacity or cheerfulness blunted; having the spirits somewhat depressed; listless; in a state approaching gloom, melancholy, or sadness: the opposite of lively or cheerful.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > [adjective]
ungladc888
wearyc888
drearyc1000
dreary-moodOE
heavyc1000
unmerryOE
droopy?c1225
mournc1275
sada1300
languishinga1325
amayedc1330
matec1330
unlightc1330
unblissful1340
lowa1382
mishappyc1390
dullc1393
elengely1393
droopinga1400
heavy-hearteda1400
joylessa1400
sytefula1400
mornifc1400
tristy?c1400
lightless?1406
heartlessa1413
tristc1420
amatec1425
languoring?c1425
mirthlessc1430
heavisome1435
darkc1440
gloomingc1440
comfortlessc1460
amateda1470
chermatc1475
tristfula1492
lustless?1507
dolorous1513
ruthful1513
downcast1521
deject1528
heartsicka1529
lumpisha1535
coolc1540
dowlyc1540
glum1547
discouraged1548
uncheerfulc1555
dumpish1560
out of heart1565
sadded1566
amoped1573
tristive1578
desolated1580
dejected1581
à la mort1586
delightless1589
afflicted1590
gladless1590
groanful1590
gloomya1593
muddy1592
sitheful1592
cloudy1594
leaden-hearted1596
disconsolated1598
clum1599
life-weary1599
spiritless1600
dusky1602
chop-fallen1604
flat1604
disanimated1605
jaw-fallen1605
moped1606
chap-fallen1608
decheerful1608
uncheerful1612
lacklustrea1616
pulled1616
dumpya1618
depressed1621
head-hung1632
grum1640
downa1644
dispirited1647
down-at-mouth1649
down in (rarely of) the mouth1649
unhearted1650
sunlessa1658
sadful1658
unlightened1659
chagrin1665
saddened1665
damp1667
moping1674
desponding1688
tristitious1694
unenjoying1697
unraised1697
unheartya1699
unked1698
despondent1699
dismal1705
unjoyful1709
unrejoiced1714
dreara1717
disheartened1720
mumpish1721
unrejoicing1726
downhearted1742
out of spirits1745
chagrineda1754
low-spirited1753
sombrea1767
black-blooded1771
glumpy1780
oorie1787
sombrous1789
morose1791
Novemberish1793
glumpish1800
mopeful1800
die-away1802
blue-devilish1804
blue-devilled1807
malagrugrous1818
down in the hip1826
yonderly1828
sunshineless1831
downfaced1832
broody1851
in a (or the) trough1856
blue-devilly1871
drooped1873
glummy1884
pippy1886
humpy1889
pipped1914
lousy1933
pissed1943
crappy1956
doomy1961
bummed1970
c1393 G. Chaucer Scogan 45 Scogan þat knelist at þe wellis hed Of grace of alle honour and worþynesse In þe ende of wich strem I am dul as ded.
c1475 Lerne or be Lewde (Harl. 5086) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 9 To Dulle, ne to Dredefulle, ne Drynke nat to offte.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) v. i. 80 Sweet recreation barr'd, what doth ensue But moodie and dull melancholly? View more context for this quotation
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 45 You are dull to Night; prithee be merry.
1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge vii. 272 When other people were merry, Mrs. Varden was dull.
1877 C. H. Spurgeon Serm. XXIII. 103 They say they are ‘dull’ if they have to be quiet for a while.
5. Causing depression or ennui; tedious, uninteresting, uneventful; the reverse of exhilarating or enlivening.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > [adjective] > wearisome or tedious
dreicha1300
alangec1330
joylessa1400
tedious1412
wearifulc1454
weary1465
laboriousa1475
tiresome?a1513
irksome1513
wearisome1530
woodena1566
irkful1570
flat1573
leaden1593
barren1600
soaked1600
unlively1608
dulla1616
irking1629
drearisome1633
drear1645
plumbous1651
fatigable1656
dreary1667
uncurious1685
unenlivened1692
blank1726
disinteresting1737
stupid1748
stagnant1749
trist?1756
vegetable1757
borish1766
uninteresting1769
unenlivening1774
oorie1787
wearying1796
subjectless1803
yawny1805
wearing1811
stuffy1813
sloomy1820
tediousome1823
arid1827
lacklustrous1834
boring1839
featureless1839
slow1840
sodden1853
ennuying1858
dusty1860
cabbagy1861
old1864
mouldy1876
yawnful1878
drab1880
dehydrated1884
interestless1886
jay1889
boresome1895
stodgy1895
stuffy1895
yawnsome1900
sludgy1901
draggy1922
blah1937
nowhere1940
drack1945
stupefactive1970
schleppy1978
wack1986
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) ii. i. 90 Are my discourses dull? Barren my wit? View more context for this quotation
1693 Humours & Conversat. Town 63 Some admirable Passage in the last dull Prologue.
1716 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 26 Sept. (1965) I. 274 I have allready said too much on so dull a subject.
1798 Duke of Clarence 1 June in Ld. Nelson Disp. & Lett. (1845) III. 10 note I trust the Campaign..will be less dull than you imagine.
1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Alice I. i. vi. 46 Agreeable, no doubt, but dull—good curates generally are.
1892 Bookseller 18/2 There is no fear of Sunday being a dull day for the little ones.
6. Not sharp or keen; blunt (in literal sense).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > bluntness > [adjective]
dulta1225
blunt1398
obtuse?a1425
dullc1440
slow1440
obtusedc1487
retuse1654
dubbed1747
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 135/1 Dulle of egge, obtusus.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 10548 Parys cast at the kyng..þre darttes noght dole.]
a1616 W. Shakespeare Richard III (1623) iv. iv. 221 + 6 No doubt the murd'rous Knife was dull and blunt, Till it was whetted on thy stone-hard heart.
1633 G. Herbert Time in Temple i Meeting with Time, Slack thing, said I, Thy sithe is dull; whet it for shame.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 96 I had three large Axes..but with much chopping and cutting..they were all full of Notches and dull.
1835 J. G. Whittier Mogg Megone ii. iv Time..Wielding the dull axe of Decay.
7.
Thesaurus »
a. Of or in reference to physical qualities, as colour or luminosity, sound, taste: Not clear, bright, vivid, or intense; obscure, dim; indistinct, muffled; flat, insipid.
b. Of the weather: Not clear or bright; cheerless, gloomy, overcast. (Here there is apparently some mixture of sense 5.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cloud > [adjective] > cloudy or overcast
cloudya1387
nebulousc1386
nubilousc1540
dulla1616
overcast1616
claggy1621
moky1706
nubilose1730
nimbose1737
skyless1846
c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1840) 151 Al is dul shadwe, whan Phebus is doun goon.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Dulle or sadde coloure, rauus [printed raucus]color.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) iii. v. 16 Is not their Clymate foggy, raw, and dull ? View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) ii. iv. 41 Sparkles this Stone as it was wont, or is't not Too dull for your good wearing? View more context for this quotation
1694 Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) ii. 4 On the 19th we had a dull Sun-shine.
1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. ii. ii. 66 Of a dull grey.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 826 The alloys of platina with silver give only a dull metal.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xxvii. 195 The dawn was dull, but the sky cleared as the day advanced.
1878 G. Dubourg Violin (ed. 5) i. 11 In character of sound, the viol instruments were decidedly sweet, but comparatively dull.
c. Defining a grade of tobacco leaf.
ΚΠ
1850 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1849: Agric. 322 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (31st Congr., 1st Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 20, Pt. 2) VI There ought, if the quality of the crop will permit, to be four sorts of tobacco, ‘Yellow’, ‘Bright’, ‘Dull’, and ‘Second’.
Compounds
C1.
a. General attributive. See also dull-head n., dull-headed adj., etc.
dull-disposed adj.
ΚΠ
1601 B. Jonson Fountaine of Selfe-love iv. iii. sig. H2v The most melancholique, and dull disposde Creature vpon earth. View more context for this quotation
dull-looking adj.
dull-making adj.
ΚΠ
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. L3 If..you be borne so neere the dull making Cataphract of Nilus, that you cannot heare the Plannet-like Musick of Poetrie.
dull-smelling adj.
ΚΠ
1616 B. Holyday tr. Persius Sat. vi. sig. E Whether he buy dull-smelling Cinnamum.
b. Parasynthetic. † dull-conceited adj. Obsolete
dull-brained adj.
ΚΠ
a1616 W. Shakespeare Richard III (1623) iv. iv. 273 + 45 Dull-brain'd Buckingham.
dull-browed adj.
ΚΠ
a1644 F. Quarles Judgem. & Mercy (1646) 1 Let's skrue our pamperd hearts a pitch beyond the reach of dull-browd sorrow.
dull-coloured adj.
ΚΠ
a1592 H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 369 They cannot be so sottish or dull conceited.
dull-edged adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > bluntness > [adjective] > having blunt edge
edgeless1617
dull-edged1622
wire-edged1778
unedged1799
blunt-edged1835
1622 M. Drayton 2nd Pt. Poly-olbion xxvi. 124 Dull-edgd tooles.
dull-eyed adj.
ΚΠ
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. iii. 14 Ile not be made a soft and dull eyde foole. View more context for this quotation
1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. III 121 This helped him through his dull-eyed woe.
dull-featured adj.
dull-hearted adj.
dull-scented adj.
dull-sighted adj.
ΚΠ
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Dulle sighted or poreblinde, rauos oculos habens.
1686 London Gaz. No. 2188/4 A light Gray Gelding..dull Sighted, especially in the right Eye.
dull-spirited adj.
ΚΠ
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. xxx. 65 To play vpon dull spirited men.
dull-surfaced adj.
dull-voiced adj.
C2. † dull-house n. [translating Dutch dolhuis, in Kilian dulhuys] Obsolete a mad-house.
dull emitter n. a thermionic valve in which the filament operates at a relatively low temperature, and so does not glow brightly; also, such a filament; also attributive; hence dull-emitting adj.
ΚΠ
1922 Wireless World 30 Sept. 858/2 The set has been designed that either R or ‘Dull Emitter’ valves can be fitted, the latter permitting of the operation of the set from dry cells.
1923 Wireless World 5 May 137/2 The dull-emitting filaments of the valves are made from thoriated tungsten and..if thoriated tungsten had not proved useful in electric lamp manufacture, there would not exist to-day the ‘dull-emitter’ valve.
1923 Exper. Wireless Nov. 97/2 The object of the dull emitter is to obtain the same filament emission with only a fraction of the energy previously required to render the ordinary filament sufficiently incandescent.
1970 D. F. Shaw Introd. Electronics (ed. 2) x. 209 Oxide-coated cathodes..glow a dull red and they are therefore called dull emitters, contrasted with tungsten filaments which are bright emitters.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > places for the sick or injured > [noun] > hospital or infirmary > hospital for the mentally ill
bedlam-house1525
dull-house1622
madhouse1649
bedlam1663
lunatic hospital1762
asylum1776
retreat1796
lunatic house1813
lunatic asylum1828
maison de santé1843
idiot asylum1848
rat house1854
bughouse1887
Colney Hatch1891
booby hatch1896
mental hospital1898
booby house1900
nut factory1900
nut collegec1906
nuthouse1906
monkey house1910
booby-hutch1914
nuttery1915
loony bin1919
nut hatch1928
silly house1930
bin1938
snake-pit1947
funny farm1950
1622 T. Scott Belgicke Pismire 79 Their Bedlams and Dul-houses for distracted people.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
dullv.
/dʌl/, U.S. /dəl/ I. transitive. To make dull, in various senses.† 2. To render dull of mood; to make listless, or somewhat gloomy: the opposite of to enliven. Obsolete.
1. † b. To pass away in sloth or inactivity. Obsolete.
a. To render sluggish or inert; to deprive of quickness, sharpness, or activity; to stupefy (a person, or the mind, understanding, wits, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > make emotionally unfeeling [verb (transitive)] > deaden or dull the emotions
stupefy?a1425
dullc1440
benumbc1485
slumber?1533
extinguish1540
extinct1542
numb1561
damp1570
hebetate1574
daunt1581
frostbite1593
hebete1597
blunt1600
unedgea1625
engross1626
astonish1635
consopite1647
bate1649
opiate1650
blura1653
hebescate1657
torpefy1808
dozena1810
dullify1838
hebetize1845
chloroform1849
narcotize1852
sodden1863
vastate1892
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > physical insensibility > dullness of sense perception > dull (the senses) [verb (transitive)] > stupefy
swevec725
amazeOE
mazec1390
dazea1400
fordulla1400
stupefy?a1425
dullc1440
entrance1569
damp1570
daunt1581
stupefact1583
trance1597
astound1600
mulla1616
doze1617
soporate1623
consopite1647
obstupefying1660
dozzlea1670
infatuate1712
smoor1718
silly1859
maizel1869
zombify1950
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 135/1 Dullyn, or make dulle in wytte, hebeto.
c1450 (c1390) G. Chaucer Complaint of Venus 76 Ffor eelde þat in my spiryt doulleþe me.
1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (xxxix. 8) They wilfully dull themselves, that they may sleepe soundly in their owne vanitie.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) ii. iii. 378 Dull not deuise by coldnesse and delay. View more context for this quotation
1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 241 Vsury..doth Dull and Dampe all Industries..wherin Money would be Stirring, if it were not for this Slugge.
1678 R. Barclay Apol. True Christian Divinity v. §21. 165 Man is dull'd by an evil habit.
1877 E. R. Conder Basis of Faith ii. 89 Without dulling their responsiveness to each new impression.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > spending time > spend time or allow time to pass [verb (transitive)] > waste time
leese?c1225
losea1340
defer1382
wastea1400
slip1435
consumea1500
superexpend1513
slow?1522
sloth1523
to fode forth1525
slack1548
dree1584
sleuth1584
confound1598
spenda1604
to fret out1608
to spin out1608
misplace1609
spend1614
tavern1628
devast1632
to drill away, on, outa1656
dulla1682
to dally away1685
squander1693
to linger awaya1704
dangle1727
dawdle1768
slim1812
diddle1826
to run out the clock1957
a1682 Sir T. Browne Christian Morals (1716) i. 38 Dull not away thy Days in sloathful supinity.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > make dejected [verb (transitive)]
drearya1300
discomfortc1325
batec1380
to cast downa1382
to throw downa1382
dullc1386
faintc1386
discomfita1425
discourage1436
sinkc1440
mischeera1450
discheerc1454
amatea1500
bedowa1522
damp1548
quail1548
dash1550
exanimate1552
afflict1561
dank1565
disanimate1565
sadden1565
languish1566
deject1581
dumpc1585
unheart1593
mope1596
chill1597
sour1600
disgallant1601
disheart1603
dishearten1606
fainten1620
depress1624
sullen1628
tristitiate1628
disliven1631
dampen1633
weigh1640
out-spirit1643
dispirit1647
flat1649
funeralize1654
hearta1658
disencourage1659
attrist1680
flatten1683
dismalizec1735
blue-devil1812
out-heart1845
downweigh1851
to get down1861
frigidize1868
languor1891
downcast1914
neg1987
c1386 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Prol. & Tale 540 Of his falshede it dulleth me to ryme.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 11314 Youre dedis me dullis, & dos out of hope.
1576 A. Fleming tr. L. Lucceius in Panoplie Epist. 64 My desire is not to dull you, if I can not delight you.
1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets cii. sig. G2 I would not dull you with my songe. View more context for this quotation
1622 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Phylaster (new ed.) iii. 32 The Nobles, and the people are all dull'd With this vsurping King.
3.
a. To render less sensitive; to take away the keenness of, blunt (the bodily senses or organs).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > physical insensibility > dullness of sense perception > dull (the senses) [verb (transitive)]
aggregea1382
obtunda1400
dull1552
to dull the edge of1605
blura1653
dullify1657
hebescate1657
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Dulle or darken with ouer muche lyght, perstringo.
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball iv. xxx. 488 If one eate to muche thereof, it dulleth the sight.
1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts i. 292 Their eares shall be dulled, and deafened.
1812 J. Wilson Isle of Palms ii. 161 Each sense is dull'd!
a1822 P. B. Shelley M.N. Post. Fr. 16 For passion's voice had dull'd their listless ear.
b. To render (feeling) less keen or intense.
ΚΠ
1651 T. Hobbes Philos. Rudim. i. §2. 4 That the Appetite, of present matters, be dul'd with the memory of things past.
1832 Ld. Tennyson To J. S. 40 Weep, weeping dulls the inward pain.
4. To take off the sharpness of, to blunt (an edge or point, or something edged or pointed). Often figurative in to dull the edge of = 3b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > bluntness > make blunt [verb (transitive)]
blunta1398
dullc1440
rebate1468
obtusec1487
bate1535
abate1548
turn1560
unedgea1625
retund1691
dead1719
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > physical insensibility > dullness of sense perception > dull (the senses) [verb (transitive)]
aggregea1382
obtunda1400
dull1552
to dull the edge of1605
blura1653
dullify1657
hebescate1657
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 135/1 Dullyn, or make dulle in egge toole, obtundo.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 5131 Þen Vlixes..The derfe wordis of Diamede dullit with speche.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. i. 5 My Reasons edge is dull'd in this Dispute.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 461 Lions, do hid their clawes within their skin when they goe or run, that so they might not be dulled.
1715 R. South 12 Serm. IV. 78 How quickly the Edge of their Valour was dulled.
1821 ‘B. Cornwall’ Mirandola ii. ii Your sword is dulled With carnage, I am told.
5. To take away the brightness, clearness, vividness, or intensity of; to make dim or indistinct; to tarnish. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > quality of colour > [verb (transitive)] > make dull
dullc1386
dor1601
dullify1657
mortify1711
dun1766
dullen1832
c1386 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale ⁋159 Þe goode werkes þat he dede..ben amortised and astoneyed and dullid by ofte synnynge.
c1425 Wyntoun Cron. ii. x. 24 Swa suld I dulle hale yhoure Delyte.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. iii. sig. Bb3 In which they [sc. the sun's beams] steeped lay All night in darkenesse, duld with yron rust. View more context for this quotation
1630 W. Davenant Cruell Brother iii. sig. Fv Foreste is the Man; That duls your reputation with the Duke.
1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. IV 185 The swift footfalls Were dulled upon the marble floor By silken webs from some far shore.
1872 W. Black Strange Adventures Phaeton xvii. 237 A sort of mist..dulling the rich colours of the glen.
1892 B. F. Westcott Gospel of Life 220 The image of God in man if dulled has not been destroyed.
II. intransitive. To become dull, in various senses.† 7. To become dull, listless, or somewhat gloomy; to grow weary, tire (of something). Obsolete.† 8. To be tedious; to urge tediously. Obsolete.
6. † b. To be inactive or sluggish; to drowse. Obsolete.
a. To become stupid, inert, blunt, dim, etc.; to lose force, intensity, keenness, or clearness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > physical insensibility > dullness of sense perception > become dulled [verb (intransitive)]
dullc1374
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupidity, dullness of intellect > be stupid [verb (intransitive)] > become dull or stupid
dullc1374
stupefy1609
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > blow (of the wind) [verb (intransitive)] > blow gently > drop or become light
scantle1627
dull1633
falter1745
slump1855
the world > matter > light > darkness or absence of light > dimness or absence of brightness > grow dim or lose brightness [verb (intransitive)]
dima1300
fade13..
appal1393
duskc1430
pallc1450
cloud1555
pale1822
wane1832
film1844
dull1862
gauze1876
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Cambr.) i. metr. ii. 3 Allas how the thowt of man dreynt in ouerthrowynge depnesse dulleþ and forletiþ his propre cleernesse.
c1450 Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 343 Myn heed dullyth, Myn herte ffullyth Of sslepp.
1509 J. Fisher Mornynge Remembraunce Countesse of Rychemonde (de Worde) sig. Biv v Her herynge sholde haue dulled.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. vi. 169 A pregnant Witt, Which rusts and duls, except it subiect find Worthy it's worth, wheron it self to grinde.
1633 T. James Strange Voy. 22 The winde duld something.
1862 G. P. Scrope Volcanos (ed. 2) 35 The lava was visible at a white heat, gradually dulling to a faint red.
1871 W. Black Daughter of Heth II. ii. 24 The day had dulled somewhat.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > be listless or lethargic [verb (intransitive)] > be or become sluggish or heavy
slugc1425
dull1430
slurg1558
drowse1570
drumblea1616
drone1858
1430 J. Lydgate tr. Hist. Troy ii. xx My counsayle is our ankers up to pulle In this matter no longer that we dulle.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 281 Þat þou schalt noȝt dullyn and slawthyn in þi labour of þi prayers.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > be or become dejected [verb (intransitive)]
heavyOE
fallOE
droopena1225
lourc1290
droopc1330
to abate one's countenance (also cheer)a1350
dullc1374
fainta1375
languora1375
languisha1382
afflicta1393
gloppen?a1400
weary1434
appalc1450
to have one's heart in one's boots (also shoes, heels, hose, etc.)c1450
peak1580
dumpc1585
mopea1592
sink1603
bate1607
deject1644
despond1655
alamort?1705
sadden1718
dismal1780
munge1790
mug1828
to get one's tail down1853
to have (also get) the pip1881
shadow1888
to have (one's) ass in a sling1960
c1220 Bestiary 383 in O. Eng. Misc. 12 Ðus is ure louerdes laȝe, luuelike to fillen, her-of haue we mikel ned, ðat we ðar-wið ne dillen.]
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iv. 1461 (1489) That ye shul dullen of þe rudenesse Of vs sely Troians.
c1440 Gesta Romanorum (Harl.) xx. 68 He dradde moche of the forseid word, and gretly dullid therwith.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > be or become wearied or bored [verb (intransitive)] > be or become wearisome or tedious
to think longeOE
it irks (me)1483
dull?1529
flag1678
weary1815
stale1893
feed1933
?1529 R. Hyrde tr. J. L. Vives Instr. Christen Woman ii. iv. sig. av Many women..with theyr ungoodly cryeng and vnreasonable callynge, crauyng, and dullyng vpon them, dryueth them to seke vnlefull meanes of lyuyng.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.OE
v.c1374