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To depress; to check; to make dull; to lessen. In a way that considerably dampened our enthusiasm. The Century.

That which damps or checks; as: (a) A valve or movable plate in the flue or other part of a stove, furnace, etc., used to check or regulate the draught of air. (b) A contrivance, as in a pianoforte, to deaden vibrations; or, as in other pieces of mechanism, to check some action at a particular time. Nor did Sabrina's p…

A sudden check; abashment; frustration; ruin; as, his hopes received a dash.

To repress or subdue the courage of; to check by fear of danger; to cow; to intimidate; to dishearten. Some presences daunt and discourage us. Glanvill.

One who, or that which, deadens or checks.

To contend (with); to treat (with), by way of opposition, check, or correction; as, he has turbulent passions to deal with. To deal by, to treat, either well or ill; as, to deal well by servants. "Such an one deals not fairly by his own mind." Locke. -- To deal in. (a) To have to do with; to be engaged in; to practice…

To overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse, or ruin by victory; to overthrow.

Sacred. [R.] To take her from austerer check of parents, To make her his by most devoutful rights. Marston.

Unfavorable aspect; unfriendly regard; cold treatment; disapprobation; whatever tends to check or discourage. He thought a little discountenance on those persons would suppress that spirit. Clarendon.

To dishearten one with respect to; to discountenance; to seek to check by disfavoring; to deter one from; as, they discouraged his efforts.

To refuse or decline to accept or pay; -- said of a bill, check, note, or draft which is due or presented; as, to dishonor a bill exchange.

A move, as at chess or checkers. [Obs.] Chaucer.

A checkered board on which draughts are played. See Checkerboard.

A game, now more commonly called checkers. See Checkers.

A bridle check; a jerk of one rein, given to a horse when he refuses to turn.

A dike of piles in the sea, a river, etc., to check the approach of an enemy.

One of the superior courts of law; -- so called from a checkered cloth, which covers, or formerly covered, the table. [Eng.]

A blow in the face, as in boxing; hence, any severe or stunning check or defeat, as in controversy. [Collog.] I should have been a stercoraceous mendicant if I had hollowed when I got a facer. C. Kingsley.

Having a visible fiber embodied in the surface of; -- applied esp. to a kind of paper for checks, drafts, etc.

A suction valve or check valve at the lower end of a pipe; esp., such a valve in a steam-engine condenser opening to the air pump.