different between mutism vs dumbness

English

Etymology

From French mutisme, from Latin mutus (“mute”).

Noun

mutism (countable and uncountable, plural mutisms)

1. A psychological disorder in which the sufferer cannot speak in certain situations.

Derived terms

• selective mutism

Related terms

• mute

Translations

Anagrams

• summit

Romanian

Etymology

From French mutisme

Noun

mutism n (uncountable)

1. muteness

Declension

Swedish

Noun

mutism c

1. mutism

Declension

Anagrams

• summit

English

Etymology

From Middle English dombenesse, from Old English dumbnes; equivalent to dumb +? -ness. Cognate with Old Frisian dumbnisse (“folly, dumbness”).

Noun

dumbness (usually uncountable, plural dumbnesses)

1. The state of being dumb or mute: that is, of not communicating vocally, whether from selective mutism (refusal to speak) or from an inability to speak.
   • 1944, Emily Carr, The House of All Sorts, "Sissy's Job," [1]

     He was a deaf-mute. His dumbness did not seem to matter when we were boys.

2. Muteness, silence; abstention from speech.
   • 1611 Shakespeare, William [first known show: 15 May 1611; posthumous publication: 1623], Winter's Tale, Act 5, Scene 2:

     There was speech in their dumbness.

3. Show or gesture without words; pantomime; dumb-show.
   • 1623 Shakespeare, William [posthumous publication], Timon of Athens, Act 1, Scene 1:

     To the dumbness of the gesture one might interpret.

4. (informal) The quality of being stupid or foolish.

Related terms

• dumb
• dumb-show

Translations