Damp — Defs

01 n. Moisture; humidity; fog; fogginess; vapor.

1.
Moisture; humidity; fog; fogginess; vapor.
“Night . . . with black air Accompanied, with damps and dreadful gloom.” — Milton.
2.
Dejection; depression; cloud of the mind.
“Even now, while thus I stand blest in thy presence, A secret damp of grief comes o'er my soul.” — Addison.

“It must have thrown a damp over your autumn excursion.” — J. D. Forbes.
3.
A gaseous product, formed in coal mines, old wells, pints, etc.(Mining)

Phrases & compounds

Choke damp — a damp consisting principally of carbonic acid gas; -- so called from its extinguishing flame and animal life. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic.

Damp sheet — a curtain in a mine gallery to direct air currents and prevent accumulation of gas.

Fire damp — a damp consisting chiefly of light carbureted hydrogen; -- so called from its tendence to explode when mixed with atmospheric air and brought into contact with flame.

02 a. Being in a state between dry and wet; moderately wet; moist; humid.

1.
Being in a state between dry and wet; moderately wet; moist; humid.
“O'erspread with a damp sweat and holy fear.” — Dryden.
2.
Dejected; depressed; sunk.[R.]
“All these and more came flocking, but with looks Downcast and damp.” — Milton.

03 v. i. To render damp; to moisten; to make humid, or moderately wet; to dampen; as, to damp cloth.

imp. & p. p. Damped; p. pr. & vb. n. Damping

1.
To render damp; to moisten; to make humid, or moderately wet; to dampen; as, to damp cloth.
2.
To put out, as fire; to depress or deject; to deaden; to cloud; to check or restrain, as action or vigor; to make dull; to weaken; to discourage.
“Usury dulls and damps all industries, improvements, and new inventions, wherein money would be stirring if it were not for this slug.” — Bacon.

“How many a day has been damped and darkened by an angry word!” — Sir J. Lubbock.

“The failure of his enterprise damped the spirit of the soldiers.” — Macaulay.