From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Dull \Dull\, a. [Compar. {Duller}; superl. {Dullest}.] [AS. dol
foolish; akin to gedwelan to err, D. dol mad, dwalen to
wander, err, G. toll mad, Goth. dwals foolish, stupid, cf.
Gr. ? turbid, troubled, Skr. dhvr to cause to fall. Cf.
{Dolt}, {Dwale}, {Dwell}, {Fraud}.]
1. Slow of understanding; wanting readiness of apprehension;
stupid; doltish; blockish. "Dull at classical learning."
--Thackeray.
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She is not bred so dull but she can learn. --Shak.
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2. Slow in action; sluggish; unready; awkward.
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This people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears
are dull of hearing. --Matt. xiii.
15.
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O, help my weak wit and sharpen my dull tongue.
--Spenser.
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3. Insensible; unfeeling.
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Think me not
So dull a devil to forget the loss
Of such a matchless wife. -- Beau. & Fl.
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4. Not keen in edge or point; lacking sharpness; blunt. "Thy
scythe is dull." --Herbert.
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5. Not bright or clear to the eye; wanting in liveliness of
color or luster; not vivid; obscure; dim; as, a dull fire
or lamp; a dull red or yellow; a dull mirror.
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6. Heavy; gross; cloggy; insensible; spiritless; lifeless;
inert. "The dull earth." --Shak.
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As turning the logs will make a dull fire burn, so
changes of study a dull brain. -- Longfellow.
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7. Furnishing little delight, spirit, or variety;
uninteresting; tedious; cheerless; gloomy; melancholy;
depressing; as, a dull story or sermon; a dull occupation
or period; hence, cloudy; overcast; as, a dull day.
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Along life's dullest, dreariest walk. -- Keble.
Syn: Lifeless; inanimate; dead; stupid; doltish; heavy;
sluggish; sleepy; drowsy; gross; cheerless; tedious;
irksome; dismal; dreary; clouded; tarnished; obtuse. See
{Lifeless}.
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