DEAFNESS

deafness, hearing loss

(noun) partial or complete loss of hearing

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

deafness (countable and uncountable, plural deafnesses)

The condition of being deaf; the lack or loss of the ability to hear.

(figurative) Lack of knowledge or refusal to admit a particular problem, issue, etc.

Source: Wiktionary

Deaf"ness, n.

1. Incapacity of perceiving sounds; the state of the organs which prevents the impression which constitute hearing; want of the sense of hearing.

2. Unwillingness to hear; voluntary rejection of what is addressed to the understanding. Nervous deafness, a variety of deafness dependent upon morbid change in some portion of the nervous system, especially the auditory nerve.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition