deaf
Translation
deaf, hard of hearing
Examples
He is deaf in one ear.
He is deaf in one ear.
She is deaf to our pleas for help.
She is deaf to our pleas for help.
Grammar Patterns
((be)) deaf to be unable to hear He is deaf in one ear.
((be)) deaf ((to sth.)) to be unwilling to listen to (sth.) She is deaf to our pleas for help.
Similar Words
Synonyms: hard of hearing, unhearing; Antonyms: hearing
Etymology
From Old English 'dēaf', meaning 'destitute of the sense of hearing'.
Memory Tips
Think of it as sound being 'dead' to someone's ears, making them 'deaf'.