DAMP • FREE-TRANSLATOR.COM • Definition of Damp

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adjective

Damp adj. (compar. damper; superl. dampest)

1.

Being in a state between dry and wet; moderately wet; moist; humid. "O'erspread with a damp sweat and holy fear."

2.

Dejected; depressed; sunk. (R.) "All these and more came flocking, but with looks Downcast and damp."

noun

Damp n.

1.

Moisture; humidity; fog; fogginess; vapor. "Night... with black air Accompanied, with damps and dreadful gloom."

2.

Dejection; depression; cloud of the mind. "Even now, while thus I stand blest in thy presence, A secret damp of grief comes o'er my soul." "It must have thrown a damp over your autumn excursion."

3.

(Mining) A gaseous product, formed in coal mines, old wells, pints, etc.

Choke damp, a damp consisting principally of carbonic acid gas; so called from its extinguishing flame and animal life. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic.

Damp sheet, a curtain in a mine gallery to direct air currents and prevent accumulation of gas.

Fire damp, a damp consisting chiefly of light carbureted hydrogen; so called from its tendence to explode when mixed with atmospheric air and brought into contact with flame.

verb

Damp v. i. (past & past part. damped; pres. part. damping)

1.

To render damp; to moisten; to make humid, or moderately wet; to dampen; as, to damp cloth.

2.

To put out, as fire; to depress or deject; to deaden; to cloud; to check or restrain, as action or vigor; to make dull; to weaken; to discourage. "To damp your tender hopes." "Usury dulls and damps all industries, improvements, and new inventions, wherein money would be stirring if it were not for this slug." "How many a day has been damped and darkened by an angry word!" "The failure of his enterprise damped the spirit of the soldiers."

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Etymology of 'Damp'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Damp" Quotes from Famous Books

... spot. How thankful I was when we reached it, for David said he had no hope of your recovery till we could find a resting-place, with pure air and a more bracing climate than we were passing through. It was dreadful to have you exposed so long to the damp night air, and the miasmas which arose from the river; but we are in safety now, and I try to forget all the dangers and anxiety we endured. It may be many weeks or months before we can again set out; but ...

— In the Wilds of Africa • W.H.G. Kingston

... could not well account for this decay in our bread, especially as it was packed in good casks, and stowed in a dry part of the hold. We judged it was owing to the ice we so frequently took in when to the southward, which made the hold damp and cold, and to the great heat which succeeded when to the north. Be it this, or any other cause, the loss was the same to us; it put us to a scanty allowance of this article; and we had bad bread ...

— A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 14 • Robert Kerr

... position by Sir Horace. Lionel Vickars fought no more after he had borne his part in the repulse of the great assault against Ostend. He had barely recovered from the effect of the wound he had received at the battle of Nieuport, and the fatigues and anxiety of the siege, together with the damp air from the marshes, brought on a serious attack of fever, which completely prostrated him as soon as the necessity for exertion had passed. He remained some weeks at the Hague, and then, being somewhat recovered, ...

— By England's Aid or The Freeing of the Netherlands (1585-1604) • G.A. Henty

... the Fountain of life, by loving attendance and obedience, and it is longing to be more closely united. The inward senses are exercised about spiritual things, but the burden of this clayey mansion doth much dull and damp them, and proves a great remora(205) to the spirit. The body indisposes and weakens the soul much. It is life, as in an infant, though a reasonable soul be there, yet overwhelmed with the incapacity of the organs. This body is truly ...

— The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning • Hugh Binning

... consisting of the law, morality, and tradition, are not always completely broken. Some survive the upheaval and serve to some extent to damp ...

— The Psychology of Revolution • Gustave le Bon

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