dullness

• dulness (archaic)

From dull +‎ -ness.

• IPA^(key): /ˈdʌl.nəs/

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dullness (usually uncountable, plural dullnesses)

1. The quality of being slow of understanding things; stupidity.
2. The quality of being uninteresting; boring; humorless or irksome.
   • 1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, II.ii:

     If to raise malicious smiles at the infirmities or misfortunes of those who have never injured us be the province of wit or Humour, Heaven grant me a double Portion of Dullness—

3. Lack of interest or excitement.
4. The lack of visual brilliance; want of sheen.

   dullness of autumn

5. (of an edge) bluntness.
6. The quality of not perceiving or kenning things distinctly.

   dullness of sight, or of hearing

7. (archaic) Drowsiness.
   • 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:

     Prospero: […] Thou art inclin'd to sleep. 'Tis a good dulness, / And give it way— I know thou canst not choose.

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