dumbness

Meaning

Noun

• The state of being dumb or mute: that is, of not communicating vocally, whether from selective mutism (refusal to speak) or from an inability to speak.
• Muteness, silence; abstention from speech.
• Show or gesture without words; pantomime; dumb-show.
• The quality of being stupid or foolish.

Origin

• From Middle English dombenesse, from Old English dumbnes; equivalent to dumb + -ness. Cognate with Old Frisian dumbnisse.