Damp
damp (damp), n. (Akin to LG.,D.,
humidity; fog; fogginess; vapor.
Night . . . with black air
Accompanied, with damps and dreadful gloom.
Milton.
2. Dejection; depression; cloud of the
mind.
Even now, while thus I stand blest in thy
presence,
A secret damp of grief comes oer my soul.
Addison.
It must have thrown a damp over your autumn
excursion. J. D. Forbes.
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.
damp (?), a. (Compar.Damper (?); superl. Dampest.)
1. Being in a state between dry and wet;
moderately wet; moist; humid.
Oerspread with a damp sweat and holy
fear. Dryden.
2. Dejected; depressed; sunk. (R.)
All these and more came flocking, but with looks
Downcast and damp. Milton.
damp , v. i. (imp. p. pr. 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. Akenside.
Usury dulls and damps all industries,
improvements, and new inventions, wherein money would be stirring if
it were not for this slug. Bacon.
How many a day has been damped and darkened by
an angry word! Sir J. Lubbock.
The failure of his enterprise damped the spirit
of the soldiers. Macaulay.
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