Damp \Damp\, a. [Compar. Damper; superl. Dampest.]

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Damp \Damp\ (d[a^]mp), n. [Akin to LG., D., & Dan. damp vapor, steam, fog, G. dampf, Icel. dampi, Sw. damb dust, and to MNG. dimpfen to smoke, imp. dampf.]

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. (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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Damp \Damp\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Damped; p. pr. & vb. n. Damping.]

[OE. dampen to choke, suffocate. See Damp, n.]

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. ``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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)