Meaning
To make deaf, either temporarily or permanently.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
From deaf + -en (verbal suffix). Compare Middle English deven, deaven (“to make deaf”), Old English ādēafian (“to deafen”) and Old English ādȳfan, Dutch verdoven (“to stupefy, deafen”), German betäuben (“to stun, stupefy, deafen”).
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 3 recorded puzzles: