See Also:

dim(1) (iou)



dim adjective, noun, & adverb.
[Old English dim(m) = Old Frisian dim, Old Norse dimmr rel. to synon. Old High German timbar (Middle High German, mod. dial. timmer), Old Swedish dimber, Old Irish dem black, dark.]
A. adjective. Compar. & superl. -mm-.
Of a light or illuminated object: faintly luminous, not shining brightly or clearly; somewhat dark, shadowy. OE.
J. Rhys Her room was dim, with a shaded candle by the bed. W. Golding Even in that dim light I could see she was shivering.
Not clear to the sight; obscured by distance etc., scarcely visible; misty, indistinct. OE.
D. H. Lawrence The dim smoke wavering up the chimney. R. Brooke That fills The soul with longing for dim hills And faint horizons.
b. fig. Not clear to the understanding; indistinctly apprehended; obscure. ME.
A. Eden The Boer war..was a dim memory. Sian Evans He felt a dim desire, which, as his thoughts lingered, grew in urgency.
Of colour, or an object in respect of its colour: not bright; dull, lustreless. ME.
R. L. Stevenson All retired and shady spots Where prosper dim forget-me-nots.
Of a person or eyes: not seeing clearly. Of sight: poor. ME.
take a dim view of colloq. regard with disfavour or pessimism.
b. fig. Dull of apprehension; colloq. not intellectually bright, somewhat stupid. ME.
Of sound, esp. the voice: indistinct, muffled. ME.
Comb.: dim-sighted adjective having dim sight; unperceptive; dim-wit colloq. a stupid person; dim-witted adjective (colloq.) stupid, dull; dim-wittedness the fact or quality of being a dim-wit.
b. noun. Dimness; obscurity; dusk. LME.
C. adverb. Compar. & superl. -mm-. Dimly. LME.
dimly adverb in a dim manner; obscurely; faintly: ME.
dimmish adjective L15.
dimmy adjective (somewhat) dim LME.
dimness noun OE.