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.
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. (Mining) A gaseous product, formed in coal mines, old
wells, pints, etc.
{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.
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. ``To damp your tender
hopes.'' --Akenside.
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.