The addition of -ity to an adjective results in a shift of stress to the antepenultimate syllable; that is, words in -ity are stressed on the last syllable before the -ity, even in cases where this syllable is part of another suffix (as in words in -ability and -icity).
adjective, dumber, dumbest. 1. lacking intelligence or good judgment; stupid; dull-witted. 2. lacking the power of speech (offensive when applied to humans): a dumb animal.
For example: Donât just stand there dumb, say something! The reason âdumbâ is often unacceptable to use in English relates to its other and more modern meaning of being conspicuously unintelligent or stupid. In this way, âdumbâ as slang is most often used by English speakers. For example: That was a dumb mistake.