Dumb

Dumb, dum, adj. without the power of speech: silent: soundless.—v.t. (Shak.) to render dumb.—n.pl. Dumb′-bells, double-headed weights swung in the hands for the purpose of developing the arms, muscles of the chest, &c.—n. Dumb′-cane, a plant of the order Araceæ, aberrant in its almost arborescent character, but agreeing with them in its acridity, which is in none of them more highly developed.—adv. Dumb′ly, in silence: mutely.—ns. Dumb′ness; Dumb′-show, gesture without words: pantomime; Dumb′-wait′er, a movable platform used for conveying food, dishes, &c. at meals: a stand with revolving top for holding dessert, &c.—vs.t. Dumfound′, -er, to strike dumb: to confuse greatly: to astonish.—ns. Dum′merer, a dumb person, esp. a rogue who feigns dumbness; Dum′miness; Dum′my, one who is dumb: a mere tool of another, man of straw: a sham package in a shop: the fourth or exposed band when three persons play at whist.—Strike dumb, to silence with astonishment. [A.S. dumb; Ger. dumm, stupid, Dut. dom.]