Part 2740

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Dejection; depression; cloud of the mind.</def>

<blockquote>Even now, while thus I stand blest in thy presence, A secret <b>damp</b> of grief comes o'er my soul. <i>Addison.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>It must have thrown a <b>damp</b> over your autumn excursion. <i>J. D. Forbes.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Mining)</fld> <def>A gaseous prodact, formed in coal mines, old wells, pints, etc.</def>

<cs><col>Choke damp</col>, <cd>a damp consisting principally of carboni<?/ acid gas; -- so called from its extinguishing flame and animal life. See <cref>Carbonic acid</cref>, under <er>Carbonic</er>.</cd> -- <col>Damp sheet</col>, <cd>a curtain in a mine gallery to direct air currents and prevent accumulation of gas.</cd> -- <col>Fire damp</col>, <cd>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.</cd></cs>

<h1>Damp</h1> <Xpage=367>

<hw>Damp</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>Compar.</tt> <er>Damper</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>superl.</tt> <er>Dampest</er>.]</wordforms>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Being in a state between dry and wet; moderately wet; moist; humid.</def>

<blockquote>O'erspread with a <b>damp</b> sweat and holy fear. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Dejected; depressed; sunk.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<blockquote>All these and more came flocking, but with looks Downcast and <b>damp</b>. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Damp</h1> <Xpage=367>

<hw>Damp</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Damped</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Damping</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>dampen</ets> to choke, suffocate. See <er>Damp</er>, <tt>n.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To render damp; to moisten; to make humid, or moderately wet; to dampen; <as>as, to <ex>damp</ex> cloth</as>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>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.</def> "To <i>damp</i> your tender hopes."

<i>Akenside.</i>

<blockquote>Usury dulls and <b>damps</b> all industries, improvements, and new inventions, wherein money would be stirring if it were not for this slug. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>How many a day has been <b>damped</b> and darkened by an angry word! <i>Sir J. Lubbock.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The failure of his enterprise <b>damped</b> the spirit of the soldiers. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Dampen</h1> <Xpage=367>

<hw>Damp"en</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Dampened</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Dampening</er>.]</wordforms> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To make damp or moist; to make slightly wet.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To depress; to check; to make dull; to lessen.</def>

<blockquote>In a way that considerably <b>dampened</b> our enthusiasm. <i>The Century.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Dampen</h1> <Xpage=367>

<hw>Damp"en</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <def>To become damp; to deaden.</def>

<i>Byron.</i>

<h1>Damper</h1> <Xpage=367>

<hw>Damp"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>That which damps or checks; as: <sd>(a)</sd> A valve or movable plate in the flue or other part of a stove, furnace, etc., used to check or regulate the draught of air. <sd>(b)</sd> A contrivance, as in a pianoforte, to deaden vibrations; or, as in other pieces of mechanism, to check some action at a particular time.</def>

<blockquote>Nor did Sabrina's presence seem to act as any <b>damper</b> at the modest little festivities. <i>W. Black.</i></blockquote>