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dullness. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
dullness, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
dullness in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
dullness you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
From dull + -ness.
Pronunciation
Noun
dullness (usually uncountable, plural dullnesses)
- The quality of being slow of understanding things; stupidity.
- The quality of being uninteresting; boring; humorless or irksome.
1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, II.ii:If to raise malicious smiles at the infirmities or misfortunes of those who have never injured us be the province of wit or Humour, Heaven grant me a double Portion of Dullness—
- Lack of interest or excitement.
- The lack of visual brilliance; want of sheen.
dullness of autumn
- (of an edge) bluntness.
- The quality of not perceiving or kenning things distinctly.
dullness of sight, or of hearing
- (archaic) Drowsiness.
1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :Prospero: […] Thou art inclin'd to sleep. 'Tis a good dulness, / And give it way— I know thou canst not choose.
Translations
quality of being slow to understand
quality of being uninteresting
lack of visual brilliance
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