different between speechless vs dumbness

English

Etymology

From Middle English specheles, from Old English spr??l?as (“speechless; without the power of speak”), from Proto-Germanic *spr?kalausaz, equivalent to speech +? -less. Cognate with West Frisian sprakeleas (“speechless”), Dutch sprakeloos (“speechless”), German Low German spraaklos (“speechless”), German sprachlos (“speechless”).

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?spi?t?.l?s/

Adjective

speechless (not comparable)

1. Not speaking; not knowing what to say; silent, especially due to surprise, amazement, etc.

   When he walked into his surprise birthday party, he was completely speechless.
2. (archaic) Synonym of unspeakable

Derived terms

• speechlessness

Translations

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