deadness (dednes)

The state of being dead. (a) Want of life or vital power in a once animated body, as an animal or a plant, or in a part of it. When he seemed to show his weakne in seeking fruit upon that fig-tree that had none, he manifested his power by cursing it to deadne with a word. South, Works, VII. i. (b) The state of being by nature without life; inanimatene . (c) A state resembling that of death: as, the dead ne of a fainting-fit. (d) Want of activity or sensitivene ; lack of force or susceptibility; dullne ; coldne ; frigidity; indifference: as, deadne of the affections. The most curious phenomenon in all Venetian history is the vitality of religion in private life, and its deadne in public policy. Ruskin . This appeared to be no news to Sylvia, and yet the words came on her with a great shock; but for all that she could not cry; she was surprised herself at her own deadne of feeling. Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia's Lovers, xxxv. (e) Flatne ; want of spirit: as, the deadne of liquors. Deadne or flatne in cyder is often occasioned by the too free admi ion of air into the ve els. Mortimer, Husbandry.