deaf-and-dumb
Americanadjective
adjective
noun
Sensitive Note
See dumb.
Usage
Using deaf-and-dumb to refer to people without speech is considered outdated and offensive, and should be avoided. The phrase profoundly deaf is a suitable alternative in many contexts
Etymology
Origin of deaf-and-dumb
1150–1200; Middle English def and doumb
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She is learning the deaf-and-dumb alphabet in order the better to communicate with me.
From The Last Shot by Frederick Palmer
Goose-Skin runs after the trouvere, and imitating the gestures of the deaf-and-dumb, indicates that he pledges himself to silence.
From The Iron Pincers or Mylio and Karvel A Tale of the Albigensian Crusades by Eugène Sue
A man with a shattered jaw was making signs, deliberately talking in the deaf-and-dumb alphabet, which perhaps he had learned for some friend or relative's sake.
From The Long Roll by Mary Johnston
The dinner itself was admirably served, and was partaken of by the deaf-and-dumb engineer, by the doctor, the Scotsman, and myself.
From The Iron Pirate A Plain Tale of Strange Happenings on the Sea by Sir Max Pemberton
Sykes used to study furtively a small book called French, and how to speak it, but he was very chary of speaking it, and seemed to prefer a deaf-and-dumb language of his own.
From Leaves from a Field Note-Book by John Hartman Morgan
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
