deafen

verb

Etymology: From deaf + -en (verbal suffix). Compare Middle English deven, deaven (“to make deaf”), Old English ādēafian (“to deafen”) and Old English ādȳfan, Dutch verdoven (“to stupefy, deafen”), German betäuben (“to stun, stupefy, deafen”).

1. To make deaf, either temporarily or permanently.

   “The head injury deafened her for life.”

2. To make soundproof.

   “to deafen a wall or a floor”

3. To stun, as with noise.

   “Racine left the ground […] deafened, dazzled and tired to death.”