Deaf-mute

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Deaf-mute \Deaf"-mute`\, n.
     A person who is deaf and dumb; one who, through deprivation
     or defect of hearing, has either failed the acquire the power
     of speech, or has lost it. [See Illust. of {Dactylology}.]
     [1913 Webster]
  


           Deaf-mutes are still so called, even when, by
           artificial methods, they have been taught to speak
           imperfectly.
     [1913 Webster] deaf-muteness

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  deaf-mute
       adj : lacking the sense of hearing and the ability to speak [syn:
             {deaf-and-dumb}]
       n : a deaf person who is unable to speak [syn: {mute}, {deaf-and-dumb
           person}]